Tag: economics

Questions Related to economics

Acid rain is produced when rain mixes with chemicals such as sulfur dioxide in the air. This may result in

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

  1. Lowering the pH in ponds, thus limiting the survival of many organisms

  2. Lowering the pH in ponds, thus affecting water temperature

  3. Raising the pH in ponds, thus encouraging the growth of organisms

  4. Raising the pH in ponds, thus limiting animal development

  5. Depleting atmospheric carbon dioxide available for photosynthesis

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Acid rain will lower down the pH of pond water and will cause an adverse effect on survival of many organisms as the acidic environment does not support the growth and existence of organisms. 

Normal pond water has neutral or slightly alkaline pH; acid rain would lower down its pH. 
Water temperature of the pond is determined by the availability of Sunlight and depth of water. 
pH does not affect the level of available dissolved carbon dioxide. 
Therefore, the correct answer is option A.

Read the passage and answer the following questions.


Acid rain is formed after the burning of fossil fuels releases compounds containing nitrogen and sulphur into the atmosphere. Sunlight and rain bring about chemical reactions that convert these compounds into nitric acid and sulphur dioxide, which combine with water droplets to form acid rain. Acid rain typically has a pH of approximately 5.5. "The higher acidity of soil and water affects many living organisms adversely. As the pH of lake water falls, fish become ill and die. Table 1 shows the effects of pH on the size of adult fish.

pH of lake Average length of fish (cm)    Average mass of fish (g)
7.5 30 cm    454 g
7.0 28 cm  450 g
6.5 29 cm   453 g
6.0 25 cm    401 g
5.5 20 cm    288 g
5.0 17 cm   127 g
4.5 all fish died all fish died


Mycorrhizal fungi, which form a mutualistic association with many plant roots, are particularly sensitive to the effects of acid rain. These fungi facilitate the absorption of water and nutrients by the plants; in turn, the plants provide sugars and amino acids without which the fungi could not survive.
What might be the best strategy to prevent the death of the fishes?

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

  1. Stock the lakes with bigger fish so that they can resist the effects of the acid better

  2. Reduce the amount of fossil fuels that are burned

  3. Supply plants with excess phosphorus and water

  4. Supply fungi with excess sugars and amino acids

  5. Add alkalines to soil and water to neutralize the acid

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

Acid rain is caused by burning of fossil fuels. By reducing the amount of burning of fossil fuel, which is one of the major cause of acid rain, frequency of acid rain can be reduced. Bigger fishes may or may not withstand the acidity. Supply of excess phosphorus and water may not benefit the plants as absorption of these substances by plant is not guaranteed. Likewise, supplying excess sugar and amino acid wont benefit the fungi. Adding alkaline might help but are not eco-friendly.

Therefore, the correct answer is option B.

Acid rain will not affect

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  1. Lithosphere

  2. Plants

  3. Ozone layer

  4. Animals

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Acid rain has no direct effect on the ozone layer. Acid rain is the rain which has unusually low pH and has acidic pollutant of nitric acid and sulphuric acid caused by the atmospheric oxides of nitrogen and sulphur. There is a little mixing of ozone with troposphere which occurs by downwind. The pollutants which cause acid rain do not make it into the ozone layer in any significant amount. The clouds appear in the troposphere and precipitation occurs from there causing rain. So, acid rain is between the troposphere and the earth's surface (Lithosphere) while the ozone layer is in the stratosphere. Plants and animals are worst affected by the acid rain.

Hence, the correct answer is 'Ozone Layer'.

Pollutant which causes acid rain is

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

  1. $SO _2$

  2. $CO _2$

  3. CO

  4. Hydrocarbons

Show answer
Correct Option: A
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}$'

The acid rain destroys vegetation because it contains 

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

  1. Nitrates

  2. H$ _2$SO$ _4$

  3. O$ _3$

  4. CO

Show answer
Correct Option: B
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.

Acid rain is due to increase in atmospheric concentration of

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

  1. Ozone and dust

  2. CO$ _2$ and CO

  3. SO$ _3$ and CO

  4. SO$ _2$ and NO$ _2$

Show answer
Correct Option: D
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.

Read the passage and answer the following questions.


Acid rain is formed after the burning of fossil fuels releases compounds containing nitrogen and sulphur into the atmosphere. Sunlight and rain bring about chemical reactions that convert these compounds into nitric acid and sulphur dioxide, which combine with water droplets to form acid rain. Acid rain typically has a pH of approximately 5.5." . The higher acidity of soil and water affects many living organisms adversely. As the pH of lake waterfalls, fish become ill and die. Table 1 shows the effects of pH on the size of adult fish.

pH of lake Average length of fish (cm)    Average mass of fish (g)
7.5 30 cm 454 g
7.0 28 cm 450 g
6.5 29 cm  453 g
6.0 25 cm    401 g
5.5 20 cm    288 g
5.0 17 cm    127 g
4.5 all fish died all fish died


Mycorrhizal fungi, which form a mutualistic association with many plant roots, are particularly sensitive to the effects of acid rain. These fungi facilitate the absorption of water and nutrients by the plants; in turn, the plants provide sugars and amino acids without which the fungi could not survive.
If the pH of the soil was 7.0, then

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

  1. The fungi would survive but the plant would be harmed.

  2. The fungi would be harmed but the plant would survive.

  3. The fungi would be slightly harmed and the plant would be slightly harmed.

  4. Both the fungi and plant would survive.

  5. Neither the fungi nor the plant would be harmed.

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

pH 7 is the neutral pH that does not harm plants and animals. Both plant and fungi will survive. Thus, the correct answer is option D.

Acid rain occurs above the area where

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

  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

Show answer
Correct Option: B
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'.

Match the columns and find out the correct combination.

I II
a DDT i. Co, $CO _2$
b PAN ii. Smog
c Acid rain iii. Biological magnification
d Global warming iv. $SO _2$
economics environmental economics acid rain air pollution - effects and control air pollution and its effects

  1. a-iv, b-iii, c-ii, d-i

  2. a-i, b-iii, c-ii, d-iv

  3. a-ii, b-iii, c-iv, d-i

  4. a-iii, b-ii, c-iv, d-i

  5. a-iii, b-iv, c-i, d-ii

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:
   I    II
 a  DDT  iii  Biological magnification
 b  PAN  ii  Smog
 c  Acid Rain  iv  SO$ _{2}$
 d  Global Warming  i  CO, CO$ _{2}$

a. DDT is the organochlorine that was used as the insecticide. It is insoluble in water but shows persistence in the adipose tissues of the living organisms due to which it keeps in accumulating at the successive trophic level in the food chain. This accumulation is called the biological accumulation.

b. Peroxyacetylnitrate (PAN) is the secondary pollutant that causes the formation of smog in the presence of sunlight,
c. Acid rain the result of the reaction between the oxides of nitrogen and sulphur with the water to form the respective acids and precipitate in the form of acid rain.
d. Global warming is the increase in the temperature of the earth due to the trapping of the long-wave infra-red radiations by the gases like CO, CO$ _{2}$. This is called the greenhouse effect.
Hence, the correct answer is 'a-iii, b-ii, c-iv, d-i'.

Study the following statements regarding acid rain and select the incorrect ones.


(i) Acid rain refers to the rainfall and other forms of precipitation with a pH of less than 5.
(ii) Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen are released from automobile exhausts, industries, power plants, etc.
(iii) These oxides of sulphur and nitrogen, may react with water in the air and form sulphuric acid $ \left( { H } _{ 2 }{ SO } _{ 4 } \right)  $ and nitric acid $ \left( { HNO } _{ 3 } \right)  $
(iv) Acid rain has harmful effects on animals and human beings but no characteristic impact on plants.

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

  1. (i) and (iii)

  2. (iii) and (iv)

  3. (iv) only

  4. (ii) only

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Acid rain damages plants by direct effect on foliage and growing point-chlorosis, necrosis, defoliation, dieback. It causes leaching of essential minerals of soil.