Environmental Study Questions in English

(B) Minamata disease is a neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning.
It is caused by the consumption of fish and shellfish contaminated with methylmercury,which is a form of mercury $(Hg^{2+})$.
The symptoms include ataxia,numbness in the hands and feet,general muscle weakness,narrowing of the field of vision,and damage to hearing and speech.
In severe cases,it leads to insanity,paralysis,coma,and death.

(D) Greenhouse gases are gases that trap heat in the atmosphere,such as $CO_{2}$,$CH_{4}$,$N_{2}O$,and water vapor.
Oxygen $(O_{2})$ is a major component of the atmosphere but does not absorb infrared radiation,therefore it is not a greenhouse gas.

(B) $H_{2}SO_{4}$ (sulphuric acid) is present in the maximum amount in 'acid rain'.
Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur,released into the atmosphere from industries,automobiles,and thermal power plants,are the main sources of acid rain.
These oxides,upon oxidation followed by hydrolysis,produce sulphuric acid and nitric acid,which,along with $HCl$,are responsible for the acidity of rain.
The oxidation reaction is catalysed by particulate matter present in the polluted atmosphere.
$2SO_{2(g)} + O_{2(g)} + 2H_{2}O_{(l)} \longrightarrow 2H_{2}SO_{4(aq)}$
$4NO_{2(g)} + O_{2(g)} + 2H_{2}O_{(l)} \longrightarrow 4HNO_{3(aq)}$
Typically,$H_{2}SO_{4}$ contributes about $70\%$ of the total acidity in acid rain.

(B) The ozone layer is formed in the stratosphere by the action of $UV$ radiation on dioxygen $(O_2)$ molecules.
$1$. $O_2(g) \xrightarrow{UV} O(g) + O(g)$
$2$. $O(g) + O_2(g) \xrightarrow{UV} O_3(g)$
Thus,the interaction of $UV$ radiation with oxygen leads to the formation of ozone.

(B, C) . $SO_{2}$ is oxidized to $SO_{3}$ by $O_{3}$ in the atmosphere,so it acts as a sink. This statement is correct.
$B$. $FGD$ (Flue Gas Desulfurization) is a process used to remove $SO_{2}$ from flue gases,not $NO_{2}$. This statement is incorrect.
$C$. $NO$ is not easily removed by alkaline scrubbing because it is neutral. $NO_{2}$ can be removed by alkaline scrubbing. This statement is incorrect.
$D$. The reaction $CCl_{4} + HF \xrightarrow{SbF_{5}} CF_{4} + HCl$ is a standard fluorination reaction using $SbF_{5}$ as a catalyst. This statement is correct.
Therefore,statements $B$ and $C$ are incorrect.