ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
LAST MINUTE REVISION
AIR POLLUTANTS
Primary pollutants
• harmful chemical substance that
directly enters the air
Common air pollutants are
• CO, SO2, NO, NO2 H2S, Cl2, NH3, hydrocarbons, particulates, chlorofluorocarbons
• CO2 causes green house effect.
• CO is the major air pollutant
SMOG
• is a mixture of smoke and fog.
• Classical smog is formed by the combination of smoke,
dust and fog containing sulphur dioxide from polluted air.
• Photochemical smog is formed by the combination of smoke,
dust and fog with an air pollutant in the atmosphere as
a result of photochemical reaction.
Peroxyacylnitrate (PAN) is a constituent of photochemical
smog.
R—COONO2
O CaCO3 + H2SO4 → CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
OZONE BLANKET
• The thick layer of ozone is called ozone blanket because
it absorbs harmful ultra-violet rays given out by the sun.
Therefore, the ozone layer is also known as protective
shield.
• The ozone layer is getting depleted due to some natural
processes or industrial activities
• The depletion of ozone layer is because of its reactions
with chlorofluorocarbons (CFC)
WATER POLLUTION
• Water can be polluted by pathogens, heavy metals and pesticides
Biochemical Oxygen Demand BOD
• Amount of oxygen required by microorganisms to break
down the organic matter present in certain volume of a
sample of water
• Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is a measure of
biological oxidisable as well as biological inert organic matter
• Clean water would have BOD value <5 ppm while BOD
of >17 indicated highly polluted water.
Pesticides
• Insecticides. DDT, malathion, carbaryl, BHC
• Herbicides. Sodium chlorate, sodium arsenate, 2,
4-dichlorophenoxy acid, triazines
• Fungicides. Thiram, phenyl mercury acetate, bordeaux
mixture
• Rodenticides. Warfarin, zinc phosphate
14/7
Secondary pollutants
• harmful chemical substance that is formed
in the air by chemical reactions
ACID RAIN
• When the pH of the rain water falls below 5.6, it becomes
acidic and is called acid rain.
• It is rain water containing acids such as nitric acid and
sulphuric acid which are formed by the oxides of nitrogen
and sulphur present in air as pollutants.
• The air in the city of Agra where Taj Mahal is located
contains very high levels of oxides of sulphur and nitrogen.
This causes acid rain and it reacts with marble (CaCO3)
of Taj Mahal
• As a result, the marble becomes pitted and weakened
mechanically because the soluble salts are easily leached
out by rain water.
GREEN HOUSE EFFECT
• The warming of the earth or global warming due to re-
emission of sun's energy absorbed by the earth followed
by its absorption by carbon dioxide molecules and water
vapour present near the earth and then its radiation back
to the earth is called greenhouse effect.
 Green house gases are
CO2, CH4, O3, H2O vapour, CFCs
Contaminants in Water
• pH of drinking water should be between 5.5. to 9.5.
• F– ion concentration should be upto 1-1.5 ppm.
• F– ions make the enamel on teeth harder by converting
[3Ca3(PO4)2.Ca(OH)2] to [3Ca3(PO4)2.CaF2]
• Excessive concentration of sulphate above 500 ppm
produces laxative effects.
• Excessive nitrate causes methemoglobinemia (blue baby
syndrome).
• Excessive lead causes anaemia, kidney dysfunction, brain
damage.
• Green chemistry is a strategy to eliminate toxic, persistent
substances from the environment.
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14/8 MODERN’S abc OF OBJECTIVE CHEMISTRY (JEE Main)

CHAPTER REVISION EXERCISE

1. The main contributor of acid rain is : (c) highly polluted.
(a) H2SO4 (b) CaCO3 (d) not suitable for aquatic life
(c) CH3COOH (d) PAN. 13. Which of the following statements about photochemical
2. In upper stratosphere, ozone protects us from : smog is wrong?
(a) infrared radiations (a) It has high concentration of oxidising agents.
(b) ultraviolet radiations (b) It has low concentration of oxidising agents.
(c) carbon dioxide (c) It can be controlled by controlling the release of NO2,
(d) peroxyacetyl nitrate. hydrocarbons, ozone etc.
3. The main culprit for the depletion of protective ozone layer (d) Plantation of some plants like pinus helps in controlling
is : photochemical smog.
(a) Oxygen (b) CFCs 14. Which of the following statement is not true about classical
smog?
(c) Oxides of S (d) Particulate matter.
(a) Its main components are produced by the action of
4. The pH of normal rainwater is
sunlight on emissions of automobiles and factories.
(a) 6.5 (b) 7.5
(b) Produced in cold and humid climate.
(c) 5.6 (d) 3.5
(c) It contains compounds of reducing nature.
5. White lung cancer is caused by :
(d) It contains smoke, fog and sulphur dioxide.
(a) Silica (b) Nitric oxide
15. Which of the following statements is wrong?
(c) Paper (d) Textiles.
(a) Ozone is not responsible for greenhouse effect.
6. Which of the following metal has maximum recommended
level in drinking water ? (b) Ozone can oxidise sulphur dioxide present in the
atmosphere to sulphur trioxide.
(a) Cadmium (b) Zinc
(c) Ozone hole is thinning of ozone layer present in
(c) Aluminium (d) Iron.
stratosphere.
7. The clean water should have BOD value :
(d) Ozone is produced in upper stratosphere by the action
(a) less than 5 ppm (b) 10 ppm of UV rays on oxygen.
(c) 20 ppm (d) 100 ppm. 16. Sewage containing organic waste should be disposed in
8. Burning of fossil fuels is the main source of : water bodies because it causes major water pollution. Fishes
(a) Nitrogen oxide (b) Nitric oxide in such a polluted water die because of
(c) Nitrous oxide (d) Sulphur dioxide. (a) Large number of mosquitoes.
9. Acid rains are produced by : (b) Increase in the amount of dissolved oxygen.
(a) excess release of carbon monoxide by incomplete (c) Decrease in the amount of dissolved oxygen in water.
combustion. (d) Clogging of gills by mud.
(b) excess formation of carbon dioxide by combustion and 17. The gaseous envelope around the earth is known as
respiration. atmosphere. The lowest layer of this is extended upto
(c) excess production of NH3 by industries. 10 km from sea level, this layer is ______ .
(d) excess NO2 and SO2 from burning fossil fuels. (a) Stratosphere (b) Troposphere
10. Which of the following is the primary precursor of (c) Mesosphere (d) Hydrosphere
photochemical smog ? 18. Dinitrogen and dioxygen are main constituents of air but
(a) Ozone (b) Peroxyacetyl nitrate these do not react with each other to form oxides of nitrogen
(c) NO2 (d) CO2. because _______ .
11. Photochemical smog occurs in warm, dry and sunny climate. (a) the reaction is endothermic and requires very high
One of the following is not amongst the components of temperature.
photochemical smog, identify it. (b) the reaction can be initiated only in presence of a
(a) NO2 catalyst.
(b) O3 (c) oxides of nitrogen are unstable.
(c) SO2 (d) N2 and O2 are unreactive.
(d) Unsaturated hydrocarbon 19. The pollutants which come directly in theair from sources
12. Biochemical Oxygen Demand, (BOD) is a measure of are called primary pollutants. Primary pollutants are
organic material present in water. BOD value less than sometimesconverted into secondary pollutants. Which of
5 ppm indicates a water sample to be ____ . the following belongs to secondary air pollutants?
(a) rich in dissolved oxygen (a) CO (b) Hydrocarbon
(b) poor in dissolved oxygen. (c) NO (d) Peroxyacetyl nitrate

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ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION 14/9
20. Which of the following practices will not come under green (d) Oxides of sulphur, nitrogen and carbon, are the most
chemistry? widespread air pollutant.
(a) If possible, making use of soap made of vegetable oils 27. Excess nitrate in drinking water can cause
instead of using synthetic detergents. (a) methemoglobinemia
(b) Using H2O2 for bleaching purpose instead of using (b) liver damage
chlorine based bleaching agents. (c) kidney damage
(c) Using bicycle for travelling small distances instead of (d) laxative effect
using petrol/diesel based vehicles.
28. The gas emitted by supersonic jet planes that slowly depletes
(d) Using plastic cans for neatly storing substances. the concentration of ozone layer is
21. The factor responsible for highest CO contamination in air (a) CO (b) NO
is :
(c) SO2 (d) O2
(a) forest fires (b) vehicular exhaust
29. CCl4 and freons
(c) volcanic activity (d) industrial processes.
(a) are green compounds because they are green coloured
22. In Antartica, ozone depletion is due to the formation of
(b) deplete ozone concentration
the following compound
(c) cause increase in ozone concentration
(a) acrolein (b) peroxy acetyl nitrate
(d) have no effect on ozone concentration
(c) SO2 and SO3 (d) chlorine nitrate
(J.K.C.E.T. 2012)
(Kerala C.E.T. 2005)
30. The smog is essentially caused by the presence of :
23. The process of ‘eutrophication’ is due to
(a) Oxides is sulphur and nitrogen
(a) Increase in concentration of insecticide in water
(b) O2 and N2
(b) Increase in concentration of fluoride ion in water
(c) O2 and O3
(c) The reduction in concentration of the dissolved oxygen
in water due to phosphate pollution in water (d) O3 and N2. (A.I.E.E.E. 2004)
(d) Attack of younger leaves of a plant by peroxyacetyl 31. In Antartica, ozone depletion is due to the formation of
nitrate the following compound :
24. Green chemistry means such reactions which : (a) acrolein
(a) Produce colour during reactions (b) peroxyacetyl nitrate
(b) Reduce the use and production of hazardous chemicals (c) SO2 and SO3
(c) Are related to the depletion of ozone layer (d) chlorine nitrate (Kerala C.E.T. 2005)
(d) Study the reactions in plants. 32. Which one of the following statements regarding
photochemical smog is not correct ?
25. The ozone layer forms naturally by
(a) Carbon monoxide does not play any role in
(a) the interaction of CFC with oxygen
photochemical smog formation.
(b) the interaction of UV radiation with oxygen
(b) Photochemical smog is an oxidising agent in character.
(c) the interaction of IR radiation with oxygen
(c) Photochemical smog is formed through photochemical
(d) the interaction of oxygen and water vapour reaction involving solar energy.
26. Which one of the following statement is not true? (d) Photochemical smog does not cause irritation in eyes
(a) pH of drinking water should be between 5.5-9.5 and throat.
(b) Concentration of DO below 6 ppm is good for the 33. Ozone depletion is initiated by
growth of fish. (a) Cl (b) ClO
(c) Clean water would have a BOD value of less than 5 (c) CF2Cl (d) N2O (A.I.E.E.E. 2004)
ppm.

EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
1. Identify the wrong statement in the following : (c) A fertilizer
(a) Acid rain is mostly because of oxides of nitrogen and (d) Biodegradable pollutant. (A.I.E.E.E. 2012)
sulphur 3. The gas leaked from a storage tank of the Union Carbide
(b) Chlorofluorocarbons are responsible for ozone layer plant in Bhopal gas tragedy was :
depletion (a) Methylisocyanate (b) Methylamine
(c) Greenhouse effect is responsible for global warming (c) Ammonia (d) Phosgene
(d) Ozone layer does not permit infrared radiation from (J.E.E. Main 2013)
the sun to reach the earth. 4. Assertion :Nitrogen and Oxygen are the main components
(A.I.E.E.E. 2008) in the atmosphere but these do not react to form oxides of
2. What is D.D.T. among the following : nitrogen
(a) Non-biodegradable pollutant Reason : The reaction between nitrogen and oxygen
(b) Greenhouse gas requires high temperature.

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14/10 MODERN’S abc OF OBJECTIVE CHEMISTRY (JEE Main)

(a) Both assertion and reason are correct, and the reason 6. A water sample has ppm level concentration of following
is the correct explanation for the assertion. anions :
(d) Both assertion and reason are correct, but the reason 2- -
F– = 10; SO4 = 100; NO3 = 50
is not the correct explanation for the assertion.
The anion/anions that make/makes the water sample
(c) The assertion is incorrect, but the reason is unsuitable for drinking is/are :
correction
2-
(d) Both the assertion and reason are incorrect. (a) Only F– (b) Only SO4
(J.E.E. Main 2015) - 2- -
5. The concentration of fluoride, lead, nitrate and iron in a (c) Only NO3 (d) Both SO4 and NO3
water sample from an underground lake was found to be (J.E.E. Main 2017).
100 ppb, 40 ppb, 100 ppm and 0.2 ppm, respectively. This
7. The recommended concentration of fluoride ion in drinking
water is unsuitable for drinking due to high concentration
water is upto 1ppm as fluoride ion is required to make teeth
of :
enamel harder by converting [3Ca3(PO4)2.Ca(OH)2] to
(a) Fluoride (b) Lead
(a) CaF2 (b) 3[(CaF2).Ca(OH)2]
(c) Nitrate (d) Iron
(c) [3Ca3(PO4)2.CaF2] (d) 3[{Ca(OH)2}CaF2]
(J.E.E. Main 2016)
(J.E.E. Main 2018)

A nswers
PRACTICE EXERCISES
Practice Exercise 14A
1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (d) 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (b) 9. (a) 10. (a)
11. (d) 12. (c) 13. (b) 14. (b) 15. (a) 16. (c) 17. (a) 18. (a) 19. (a) 20. (a)

Practice Exercise 14B

1. (b) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (c) 5. (d) 6. (b) 7. (b) 8. (d) 9. (c) 10. (b)
11. (a) 12. (b) 13. (c)

CHAPTER REVISION EXERCISE

1. (a) 2. (b) 3. (b) 4. (c) 5. (b) 6. (b) 7. (a) 8. (d) 9. (d) 10. (c)
11. (c) 12. (a) 13. (b) 14. (a) 15. (a) 16. (c) 17. (b) 18. (a) 19. (d) 20. (d)
21. (c) 22. (d) 23. (c) 24. (b) 25. (b) 26. (b) 27. (a) 28. (b) 29. (b) 30. (a)
31. (d) 32. (d) 33. (a)

EXAMINATION QUESTIONS
1. (d) 2. (a) 3. (a) 4. (a) 5. (c) 6. (a) 7. (c)

HINTS AND SOLUTIONS

PRACTICE EXERCISES
15. (a) Lead is the most dangerous metal pollutant of automobile exhausts.

CHAPTER REVISION EXERCISE

3. (b) Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) are the main culprits for the depletion of ozone layer.
13. (b) Photochemical smog is oxidising in nature because it contains large concentration of oxidising agents such
as O3 and NO2.
20. (d) Peroxyacetyl nitrate is a secondary pollutant which is formed from primary pollutants such as NO2, O3 and
hydrocarbons.
26. (b) Fish dies in water bodies polluted by sewage due to decrease in dissolve oxygen (D.O.).
27. (a) Excess nitrate in drinking water can cause methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome).

4
PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

12 ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

[JEE MAIN]

Q.1 Which of the following acts as rocket propellants [AlEEE 2003]

(1) Liq. H2 + Liq. O2 (2) Liq. N2 + Liq. O2
(3) Liq. H2 + Liq. N2 (4) Liq. O2 + Liq. Argon

Q.2 When rain is accompanied by a thunderstorm, the collected rain water will have pH?
(1) slightly lower than that of rain water without thunderstorm [AlEEE 2003]
(2) slightly higher than that of rain water without thunderstonrn
(3) uninfluenced by occurence of thunderstorm
(4) which depends on amount of dust in air

Q.3 The smog is essentially caused by the presence of [AlEEE 2004]

(1) O3 and N2 (2) O2 and N2
(3) Oxides of sulphur and N2 (4) O2 and O3

si r
s
Q.4 Ozone in stratosphere is depleted by [AlEEE 2004]
(1) CF2Cl2 (2) C7F16 (3) C6H6Cl6 (4) C6F6

Q.5
(1) Polyhalogens
p
(2) Ferrocene m
Which of the following is responsible for depletion of ozone layer in upper strata of the atmosphere?
(3) Fullerenes (4) Freons
[AlEEE 2004]

Q.6 Identify the wrong statements in the following [AlEEE 2008]

(1) Chlorofluorocarbons are responsible for ozone layer depletion
(2) Green house effect is responsible for global warming
(3) Ozone layer does not permit infrared radiation from the sun to reach the earth
(4)Acid rain is mostly because of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur

Q.7 Identify the incorrect statement from the following [AlEEE 2011]
(1) Oxides of nitrogen in the atmosphere can cause the depletion of ozone layer
(2) Ozone absorbs the intense ultraviolet radiation of the sun
(3) Depletion of ozone layer is because of its chemical reactions with chlorofluoro alkanes
(4) Ozone absorbs infra red radiations

Q.8 What is DDT among the following? [AlEEE 2012]

(1) Green house gas (2)Afertilizer
(3) Biodegradable pollutant (4) Non-biodegradable pollutant

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PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

Q.9 Which of the following statements about the depletion of ozone layer is correct ? :
(1) The problem of ozone depletion is more serious at poles because ice crystals in the clouds over poles
act as catalyst for photochemical reactions involving the decomposition of ozone byCl and ClO radicals.
(2) Freons, chlorofluorocarbons, are inert chemically, they do not react with ozone in stratosphere.
(3) The problem of ozone depletion is less serious at poles because NO2 solidifies and is not available
for consuming ClO radicals.
(4)Oxides of nitrogen also do not react with ozone in stratosphere.
[JEE (Main-Online) 2014]

Q.10 Global warming is due to increase of :

(1) methane and O3 in atmosphere
(2) methane and nitrous oixde in atmosphere
(3) methane and CO in atmosphere
(4) methane and CO2 in atmosphere
[JEE (Main-Online) 2014]

Q.11 Photochemical smog consists of excessive amount of X, in addition to aldehydes, ketones, peroxy acetyl
nitrile (PAN), and so forth. X is :
(1) CO (2) CO2 (3) O3 (4) CH4
[JEE (Main-Online) 2015]

i r
ss
Q.12 Addition of phosphate fertilisers to water bodies causes :
(1) enhanced growth of algae (2) increase in amount of dissolved oxygen in water

m
(3) increase in fish population (4) deposition of calcium phosphate

p
[JEE (Main-Online) 2015]

Q.13 The reaction of ozone with oxygen atoms in the presence of chlorine atoms can occur by a two step
process shown below:
O3(g) + Cl(g)  O2 (g) + ClO(g) ...... (i) ki = 5.2 × 109 L mol–1 s–1
ClO(g) + O(g)  O2 (g) + Cl(g) ......(ii) kii = 2.6 × 1010 L mol–1 s–1
The closest rate constant for the overall reaction O3 (g) + O(g)  2O2 (g) is:
(1) 5.2 × 109 L mol–1 s–1 (2) 2.6 × 1010 L mol–1 s–1
(3) 3.1 × 1010 L mol–1 s–1 (4) 1.4 × 1020 L mol–1 s–1
[JEE (Main-Online) 2016]

Q.14 BOD stands for :

(1) Biological Oxygen Demand (2) Bacterial Oxidation Demand
(3) Biochemical Oxygen Demand (4) Biochemical Oxidation Demand
[JEE (Main-Online) 2016]

Q.15 Identify the pollutant gases largely responsible for the discoloured and lustreless nature of marble of the
Taj Mahal.
(1) O3 and CO2 (2) CO2 and NO2 (3) SO2 and NO2 (4) SO2 and O3
[JEE (Main-Online) 2017]

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PREVIOUS YEARS QUESTIONS ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY

Q.16 Which of the following is a set of green house gases ?

(1) CH4, O3, N2, SO2 (2) O3, N2, CO2, NO2
(3) O3, NO2, SO2, Cl2 (4) CO2, CH4, N2O, O3
[JEE (Main-Online) 2017]

Q.17 The recommended concentration of fluoride ion in drinking water is up to 1 ppm as fluoride ion is
required to make teeth enamel harder by converting [3Ca3(PO4)2·Ca(OH)2] to
(1) [3Ca3(PO4)2·CaF2] (2) [3{Ca(OH)2}·CaF2]
(3) [CaF2] (4) [3(CaF2)·Ca(OH)2]
[JEE (Main-Offline) 2018]

Q.18 Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) value can be a measure of water pollution caused by the organic
matter. Which of the following statements is correct?
(1) Anaerobic bacteria increase the BOD value
(2) Aerobic bacteria decrease the BOD value
(3) Polluted water has BOD value higher than 10 ppm.
(4) Clean water has BOD value higher than 10 ppm.
[JEE (Main-Online) 2018]

Q.19 The statement that is not true about ozone is :

r
(1) in the stratosphere, it forms a protective shield against UV radiation.

ssi
(2) it is at oxic gas and its reaction with NO gives NO2.
(3) in the atmosphere, it is depleted by CFCs.
(4) in the stratophere, CFCs release chlorine free radicals (Cl–) which reacts with O3 to give chlorine

Q.20
dioxide radicals.

Thermal power plants can lead to :

p m [JEE (Main-Online) 2020]

(1) Ozone layer depletion (2) Eutrophication

(3)Acid rain (4) Blue baby syndrome
[JEE (Main-Online) 2020]

Q.21 The incorrect statement(s) among (a) - (d) regarding acid rain is (are) :
(a) It can corrode water pipes.
(b) It can damage structures made up of stone.
(c) It cannot cause respiratory ailments in animals.
(d) It is not harmful for trees
(1) (c) and (d) (2) (a), (b) and (d) (3) (c) only (4) (a), (c) and (d)
[JEE (Main-Online) 2020]

Q.22 The processes of calcination and roasting in metallurgical industries, respectively, can lead to :-
(1) Global warming and acid rain
(2) Photochemical smog and ozone layer depletion
(3) Global warming and photochemical smog
(4) Photochemical smog and global warming
[JEE (Main-Online) 2020]

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