Chapter-18 : Pollution of air and water

NOTEBOOK QUESTIONS

Q.1 What is meant by air pollution ?

Answer: The presence of unwanted substances in the air which have a harmful effect
on living and non-living components is known as air pollution.
Q.2 Name the pollutants which are added from natural sources.
Answer: Smoke and dust from forest fires or volcanic eruptions.
Q.3 Which gases are released from petroleum refineries?
Answer: Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide.
Q.4 Name the pollutants added by vehicles.
Answer: Carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and smoke.
Q.5 What is Smog? What are its harmful effects?
Answer: Smog is produced when smoke which contains oxides of nitrogen combine
with other air pollutants and fog. It can cause breathing diseases such as asthma,
cough and wheezing in children.
Q.6 How are CFCs added in the atmosphere? What harm is caused by the presence of
CFCs ?
Answer: Chlorofluorocarbons or CFCs are released from aerosol sprays, refrigerators
and air conditioners. They are harmful because they damage the ozone layer which
protects us from harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
Q.7 Explain the difference between pure and polluted air.
Ans
Pure air Polluted air
1) Free from harmful and poisonous Increased level of harmful and
gases. poisonous gases.
2) Fit for breathing and good for Unfit for breathing and can cause
health. diseases like asthma, lung cancer,etc
3) Good for crop production and Threat to our ecosystem, affects crops,
wildlife. wild life and acquatic life.

Q.8 At an individual level, how can you help to reduce air pollution?
Answer: We can do the following things to reduce air pollution:
• Use public transport as far as possible.
• Generate awareness among people to reduce air pollution.
• plant more and more trees because trees help to keep the environment clean and
 reduce air pollution.
• Use vehicles for short distances.
Q.9 Explain circumstances leading to acid rain. How does acid rain affect us?
Answer: Gases like nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide are the pollutants which react
with the water vapour present in atmosphere to form nitric acid and sulphuric acid.
These acids come down with the rain, making the rain acidic. This is called acid
rain.
Following are the affects of acid rain:
1)It harms acquatic life and wildlife
2)It corrodes marble and damages buildings and sculptural materials.
3)It causes direct damage to plants and crops.
4) It removes minerals and nutrients from soil thus affecting the growth of plants.
5)It causes skin allergies/irritations in human beings.

Q.10 Which of the following is not a greenhouse gas?

(a) Carbon dioxide
(b) Sulphur dioxide
(c) Methane
(d) Nitrogen
Answer:
(d) Nitrogen

Q.11 Explain the ‘Greenhouse Effect’.

Answer: The rays of sun warms the earth. A part of this radiation is absorbed by the
earth and a part of it is reflected back. A part of the reflected radiation is trapped by
the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, carbon mono oxide
present in the atmosphere trap these radiations and do not allow heat to leave. This is
called greenhouse effect.

Q.12 Define Global warming.

Answer : The continuous increase in the temperature of the Earth due to increased
levels of green house gases like carbon dioxide, methane, etc is known as Global
warming.

Q.13 Describe the threat to the beauty of the Taj Mahal.

Answer: Taj Mahal has become a matter of concern due to pollutants in air that are
discolouring its white marble. Acid rain due to increasing air pollution has started
corroding the marble. This phenomenon is called as Marble cancer.
In addition to acid rain, Suspended particulate matter or SPM such as the soot
particles emitted by Mathura oil refinery, has contributed towards the yellowing of
the marble. Thus, making Taj Mahal losing its beauty.