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 chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Acid rain is caused by emissions of:

  1. sulphur dioxide

  2. nitrogen dioxide

  3. both $A$ and $B$
  4. hydrogen

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

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 chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Which of the following is a major natural cause for acid rain?

  1. Earthquakes

  2. Cyclones

  3. Volcanoes

  4. Thunderstorm

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The major natural causal agent for acid rain is volcanic emissions. Volcanoes emit acid producing gases to create higher than normal amounts of acid rain or any other form of precipitation such as fog and snow to an extent of affecting vegetation cover and health of residents within the surrounding. 

Multiple choice chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Which is among the greatest contributors to gaseous pollutions that are responsible for acidic rain?

  1. Electrical power generation using coal

  2. Earthquakes

  3. Air pollution

  4. All of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The principal cause of acid rain is sulfur and nitrogen compounds from human sources, such as electricity generation, factories, and motor vehicles. Electrical power generation using coal is among the greatest contributors to gaseous pollutions that are responsible for acidic rain. The gases can be carried hundreds of kilometers in the atmosphere before they are converted to acids and deposited.

Multiple choice chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Photochemical smog is the chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile ________ compounds in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles and ground-level ozone.

  1. hydrocarbons

  2. inorganic compounds

  3. sulphates

  4. carbonates

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Photochemical smog is the chemical reaction of sunlight, nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere, which leaves airborne particles and ground-level ozone.
Hence option A is the correct answer.

Multiple choice chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

'Smog', which means 'smoke' plus 'fog', irritates eyes and the throat. Smog is mainly caused by pollutants from automobiles and industries when they:

  1. hit a dense shower of snow flakes

  2. react photochemically, due to the effect of ultraviolet light

  3. form a smoke ring

  4. react with oxygen in the air due to lightning electrical discharge from clouds

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation
Smog is especially common from automobile exhaust. A chemical reaction between solar ultraviolet radiation and an atmosphere polluted with hydrocarbons and oxides of nitrogen causes photochemical smog. 
Multiple choice chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Sulphur oxides which are responsible for major air pollution are caused by:

  1. burning of coal and refining of pertoleum

  2. burning of fuels in automobiles

  3. combustion of fuels containing C and H

  4. using indoor combustion devices like cooking gas.

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

$SO _2$ is a major gaseous pollutant found in the lower atmosphere. They are the compounds of sulphur and oxygen molecules. So when the fuels such as coal and oil are burnt, it leads to emission of $SO _2$ gas. 

Multiple choice chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Acid rain is produced by:

  1. excessive release of CO in air

  2. excessive release of $SO _{2}$ and $H _{2}S$ in air
  3. excessive release of $NO _{2}$ and $SO _{2}$ in air
  4. excessive release of $NH _{3}$ and $CO _{2}$ in air
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Acid rain is the state when pH of rain falls 5.6. It is mainly due to the presence of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen ( $ NO _2 $ and  $ SO _2 $ in the atmosphere. They are transported into the atmosphere by wind an other air currents. 

Multiple choice chemistry natural resources- air, water and land acid deposition air and air pollution atmospheric pollution

Atmosphere of big cities is polluted most by :

  1. Automobile exhausts

  2. Radioactive fall out

  3. Household waste

  4. Pesticide residue

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The main source of pollution in metro cities is automobile exhausts. 


As greater the city, more the population which uses private transport.


Hence, increase in pollution is caused by automobile exhausts.


Therefore, option A is correct.

Multiple choice chemistry planet earth acid deposition air and air pollution natural resources- air, water and land

Acid rain is due to :

  1. Combination of oxides of sulphur with rain water

  2. Combination of oxides of nitrogen with rain water

  3. Formation of $H _{2}SO _{4}$ and $HNO _{3}$
  4. All of the above

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

When gases like $NO _2$ and $SO _3$ go into the atmosphere and react with water and form $H _2SO _4$ and $HNO _3$, these acids come along with rain water and hence it is known as acid rain.

Multiple choice biology health and diseases non-infectious diseases non infectious diseases categories of diseases

Which of the following chemicals in automobile exhaust can cause cancer?

  1. Carbon monoxide

  2. Polycyclic hydrocarbons

  3. Lead

  4. Oxides of nitrogen

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) part of the World Health Organisation announced that it had reclassified diesel exhaust as a 'definite carcinogen in highest category (Category 1). When diesel burns inside an engine it releases two potentially cancer-causing things: microscopic soot particles, and chemicals called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs. There are three possible ways these can cause cancer. The microscopic particles making up diesel exhaust particulate matter are less than one-fifth the thickness of a human hair. They are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, causing respiratory disease. Inhaled PAHs could directly damage the DNA in the cells of our lungs leading to cancer. Secondly, the soot particles can get lodged deep inside the lungs, causing long-term inflammation, and thirdly this can increase the rate at which cells divide. So if any nearby lung cells pick up random mutations, this inflammation could make them more likely to grow and spread. 

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.