Environmental Studies

Air Pollution

2,340 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 economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Acid rains are produced by

  1. Excess $NO _2$ and $SO _2$ from burning fossil fuels
  2. Excess production of $NH _3$ by industry and coal gas

  3. Excess release of carbon monoxide by incomplete combustion
  4. Excess formation of $CO _2$ by combustion and animal respiration
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

When the industrial activities use the fossil fuels, the excess of this usage results in the release of oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulphur. These condense around in the troposphere and react with water to form the nitric acid, nitrous acid, and sulphuric acid. These acids precipitate with rain to form the acid rain. Acid rain is corrosive to the tissues, buildings etc.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Excess NO$ _{2}$ and SO$ _{2}$ from burning fossil fuels'.

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Corrosion of statues and monuments occurs due to

  1. Photochemical smog

  2. Carbon monoxide

  3. Acid rain

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

Acid rain is rich in sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids have corrosive effects on the building material. They get deposited on the limestone, sandstone, marble etc. and increase their corrosion when exposed to the rain and fog.

A. Photochemical smog causes respiratory illness.
B. Carbon monoxide causes a lack of oxygen in the body.
C. Acid rain corrodes the statues and monuments.
D. Methane is a greenhouse gas.
So, the correct answer is 'Acid rain'

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Which of the following gases cause acid rain?

  1. Carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide

  2. Sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen

  3. Oxides of nitrogen and carbon dioxide

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The fossils burn in the atmosphere and forms oxides. These oxides combine with the precipitation and forms acids. This acid falls on earth as acid rain. The acid rain harms the flora and fauna. It also causes skin diseases.

So, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Etching of marble, limestone, jewellery, etc., is caused by pollutant.

  1. $CO _2$

  2. CO
  3. $SO _2$
  4. $CH _4$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Acidic compounds such as sulphuric acids and nitric acids are corrosive in nature and cause etching of marble, limestone and jewellery.

These are formed by oxides of nitrogen and sulphur and are corrosive.
So, the correct option is SO$ _2$.

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Acid rain is caused by

  1. $SO _2$ and $SO _3$
  2. $SO _2$ and CO
  3. $NH _3$ and CO
  4. $SO _2$ and $NH _3$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Acid rain is caused by the chemical reaction. Basically, rain that has unusually low pH is called acid rain. The most common chemicals that cause acid rain are sulphur oxides and nitric oxides. These substances rise high in the atmosphere where they react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutant. Sulphur dioxide on reaction with water and oxygen forms sulphur trioxide which is rapidly converted into sulphuric acid in presence of water.

Hence, the correct answer is 'SO$ _{2}$ and SO$ _{3}$'.

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Acid rains are produced by

  1. Excess $ { NO } _{ x } $ and $ { SO }_{ 2 } from burning fossil fuels
  2. Excess production of $ { NH } _{ 3 } $ by industries and power plants

  3. Excess release of carbon monoxide by incomplete combustion of fossil fuels
  4. Excess release of $ { CO } _{ 2 } $ by combustion and animal respiration.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Acid rain is caused by large-scale emission of acidic gases into the atmosphere from thermal power plants, industries, and automobiles. The common ones are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides NOx, volatile organic carbons VOCs and hydrogen chloride. NOx is also produced in the atmosphere through lightning. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are changed in the atmosphere into sulphuric acid and nitric acid by combining with oxygen and water.

So, the correct answer is 'Excess NOx and $ { SO }_{ 2 } from burning fossil fuels'.

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Which of the following causes regional pollution?

  1. Smog

  2. Acid rain
  3. $O _3$ layer depletion

  4. Both A and B
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation
Smog is formed of smoke and fog and is particularly a pressing problem for large metropolitan cities. The constituents of smog are ground-level ozone, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds. The sources of these pollutants are emissions from vehicles, smokestack emission paints etc. 
Acid rain is formed when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water and oxygen forming more acidic pollutant. Areas having industrial abundance are prone to acid rains. The major sources are coal-fired power plants, burning of fossil fuels etc.
Hence, the correct answer is 'Both A and B'
Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants.

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation
Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain.
Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids.
Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

What is an estimated damage caused by acid rain to buildings in USA?

  1. 3 billion $ a Year
  2. 4 billion $ a Year
  3. 9 billion $ a Year
  4. 5 billion $ a Year
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Estimates regarding the economic impact of acid rain on buildings vary, but 5 billion dollars per year is a commonly cited figure in environmental science textbooks for the USA.

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Burning of coal produces oxides of sulphur and nitrogen which combined with water vapor leads to

  1. acid rain

  2. brackish water

  3. forest fire

  4. soil pollution
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emitted from burning coal react with atmospheric moisture to form sulfuric and nitric acids, resulting in acid rain.

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Pollutant which causes acid rain is

  1. $SO _2$
  2. $CO _2$

  3. CO

  4. Hydrocarbons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Acid rain is caused by the chemical reaction. Basically, rain that has unusually low pH is called acid rain. The most common chemicals that cause acid rain are sulphur oxides and nitric oxides. These substances rise high in the atmosphere where they react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutant. Sulphur dioxide on reaction with water and oxygen forms sulphur trioxide which is rapidly converted into sulphuric acid in presence of water.

Hence, the correct answer is 'SO$ _{2}$'

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

The acid rain destroys vegetation because it contains 

  1. Nitrates
  2. H$ _2$SO$ _4$
  3. O$ _3$

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

Acid rain is a formed due to the mixing of oxides of several harmful gases with the rain. Acid rain formation result from both natural sources, such as volcanoes and decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides resulting from fossil fuel combustion. These gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. 

When this rain falls on the soil, the soil becomes acidic. Also, the leaves get destroyed and germinating seeds get corroded. Plants experience stunted growth. Thus, vegetation is destroyed.
So, the correct answer is option B.

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Acid rain is due to increase in atmospheric concentration of

  1. Ozone and dust
  2. CO$ _2$ and CO
  3. SO$ _3$ and CO
  4. SO$ _2$ and NO$ _2$
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

NOx and $SO _2$ are emitted by fossil fuel combustion especially coal. These chemicals are converted into sulfuric acid and nitric acid in the atmosphere when they react with water vapour. When these acids are mixed with rain water they from acid rain. Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Multiple choice economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

Acid rain occurs above the area where

  1. There is excess release of $NH _3$ and coal gas
  2. Factories are expelling $SO _2$ into air
  3. There is excess production of $CO _2$ due to excessive combustion and respiration

  4. There is excess production of gaseous hydrocarbons
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Acid rain is a result of a chemical reaction occurring in a localized area where the concentration of the oxides of nitrogen and sulphur are high. An area where there are factories will have an accumulation of sulphur dioxide in the air. These oxides react with water and precipitate in the form of the acid rain. For example, around the Taj Mahal area, the presence of the Mathura Refinery has caused multiple events of acid rain.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Factories are expelling SO$ _{2}$ into air'.