Environmental Studies

Air Pollution

2,298 Questions

Air pollution questions address the sources of emissions, indoor air quality, and the formation of photochemical smog. You will explore the impact of particulate matter, acid rain, and urban pollutants. This is a highly relevant subject for environmental studies and general awareness tests.

Photochemical smogParticulate matter emissionsAcid rain causesIndoor air pollutionAmmonia emissions

Air Pollution Questions

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution control smoke, dust and other air pollutants, acid rain air pollutants and its effects air and air pollution

What is the reason for irritant red haze in traffic and congested places?

  1. Oxides of nitrogen

  2. Oxides of sulphur

  3. Oxides of carbon

  4. Oxides of phosphorus
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
The irritant red haze in traffic and congested places is due to the oxides of Nitrogen.
Nitrogen dioxide has a deep red color ,and is a poisonous gas. When it is mixed with aerosols, it causes reddish brown colour of haze in congested places.The fuel release of cars and trucks are the major sources of Nitrogen oxides. Mostly NO is present in automobile exhaust, and ​once this NO is released in the atmosphere it combines with Oxygen of the air to form by the following chemical reaction.
                          $2NO+{ O } _{ 2 }\longrightarrow 2N{ O } _{ 2 }$
Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution control smoke, dust and other air pollutants, acid rain air pollutants and its effects air and air pollution

Which of the following is precursors of photochemical smog?

  1. $NO _2$ and Hydrocarbon
  2. <span class="MathJax_Preview">$P _2O _5$ and Hydrocarbon<span class="MathJax"><span class="MJX_Assistive_MathML">P2O5
  3. Ethanol and $NO _2$
  4. Methanol and $SiO _2$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
  1. Photochemical smog is composed of primary and secondary pollutants.
  2. Primary pollutants, which include nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds are introduced into the atmosphere via vehicular emissions and industrial processes.
  3. Secondary pollutants, like ozone, result from the reaction of primary pollutants with ultraviolet light.
Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution control smoke, dust and other air pollutants, acid rain air pollutants and its effects air and air pollution

From the followings, which is the correct statement?

  1. CO which is a major pollutant resulting from the combustion of fuels in automobiles plays a major role in photochemical smog

  2. Classical smog has a reducing character while photochemical smog has reducing character

  3. Classical smog has an oxidizing character while the photochemical smog is reducing in character

  4. During formation of smog, the level of ozone in the atmosphere goes down
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Nowadays, the mixture of particulates with gaseous oxides of sulphur present in the atmosphere is called classical smog. The principal source of classical smog is the combustion of industrial and household fuels (coal and petroleum). Because of the presence of $S{ O } _{ 2 }$ and carbon (soot) particles, classical smog has a reducing character. It occurs in winter months, particularly in early morning hours. It causes severe lung and throat irritation.

The reaction of sunlight with hydrocarbons and ${ NO } _{ 2 }$ results in a variety of chemical products. One of these is ozone, made up of 3 atoms of oxygen, which is an irritating noxious gas. Other undesirable chemicals such as aldehydes also result from this photochemical reaction. This type of smog is oxidizing in character because of the presence of ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and some photochemical oxidants.

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution control smoke, dust and other air pollutants, acid rain air pollutants and its effects air and air pollution

Which of the following is true about photochemical smog?

  1. It is reducing in nature

  2. It is formed in winter

  3. It is a mixture of smoke and fog

  4. It causes irritation in eyes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The reaction of sunlight with hydrocarbons and ${ NO } _{ 2 }$ results in a variety of chemical products. One of these is ozone, made up of 3 atoms of oxygen,which is an irritating noxious gas. Other undesirable chemicals such as aldehydes also result from this photochemical reaction. This type of smog is oxidizing in character because of the presence of ozone,nitrogen dioxide and some photochemical oxidants.

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution control smoke, dust and other air pollutants, acid rain air pollutants and its effects air and air pollution

A large amount of $NO _x$ emitted from the power plant and industrial units can be removed by scrubbing the flue gases with (for the commercial process):

  1. ethanol
  2. $H _2SO _4$
  3. $CH _3COOH$

  4. benzoic acid
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Of the $N{ O } _{ x }$  absorbed by acid, typically less than 10% enters the large flow of acid circulating around the acid towers. Instead, it concentrates on the much smaller quantity of acid mist formed at the inlet to the absorber towers. There are several reactions involved, but the net result can be summarised as: 

$N{ O } _{ 2 }+NO+2{ H } _{ 2 }S{ O } _{ 4 }\longrightarrow 2HNOS{ O } _{ 4 }+{ H } _{ 2 }O$

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution control smoke, dust and other air pollutants, acid rain air pollutants and its effects air and air pollution

The harmful gaseous oxides include the oxides of:

  1. sulphur

  2. carbon

  3. nitrogen

  4. all of above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The gaseous pollutants of the atmosphere are harmful gaseous oxides and oxidants. The harmful gaseous oxides include the oxides of sulphur, nitrogen, and carbon, besides hydrocarbons.

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution control smoke, dust and other air pollutants, acid rain air pollutants and its effects air and air pollution

How does lead get in the air?

  1. Ore and metal processing

  2. Waste incinerator

  3. Lead acid battery

  4. All of above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Sources of lead emissions vary from one area to another. At the national level, major sources of lead in the air are ore and metals processing and piston-engine aircraft operating on leaded aviation fuel. Other sources are waste incinerators, utilities, and lead-acid battery manufacturers. The highest air concentrations of lead are usually found near lead smelters.

Multiple choice chemistry air and water pollution control smoke, dust and other air pollutants, acid rain air pollutants and its effects air and air pollution

___________ is by far the biggest source of ammonia emissions.

  1. Paper industries

  2. Agriculture

  3. Aircraft

  4. Batteries
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Agriculture is by far the biggest source of ammonia emissions. Livestock farming and animal waste account for the biggest percentage of total ammonia emissions which are due to the decomposition of urea from large animal wastes and uric acid from poultry wastes.

Multiple choice biology option c: ecology and conservation hotspots and methods of conservation biodiversity: conservation conservation of biodiversity

$S{O} _{2}$ pollution is indicated by

  1. Desmodium (grasses)

  2. Sphagnum (mosses)

  3. Usnea (lichens)

  4. Cucurbita (climbers)
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

SO$ _2$ is produced during combustion of fossil fuels, refining of petroleum, smelting of sulphur containing ores, smog and acid rain. SO$ _2$ causes membrane damage, destruction of chlorophyll, necrosis and water soaked appearance. Lichens are the most sensitive organisms to SO$ _2$ pollution and do not grow in areas with high levels of sulphur dioxides. Hence, the correct answer is option C.

Multiple choice biology waste products reduce, recycle, reuse importance of the conservation of natural resources recycling

This is non biodegradable pollutant

  1. Sulphur dioxide

  2. Oxides of nitrogen

  3. Lead vapour

  4. Sewage
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The pollutants which cannot be broken down into simpler, harmless substances in nature, are called non-biodegradable pollutants. DDT, plastics, polythene, bags, insecticides, pesticides, mercury, lead, arsenic, metal articles like aluminium cans, synthetic fibres, glass objects, iron products, and silver foils are non-biodegradable pollutants.

So the correct answer is 'Lead vapour'.