Environmental Chemistry Test - 16

Biodegradable material is that which breaks down organically by bacteria and may be returned to the earth with none of the damage associated with the generation of typical waste materials.

Bioamplification is the condition where the concentration of toxic chemicals increases as it moves through the trophic levels. It is also known as bio-magnification. The concentration of a substance, such as DDT or mercury, in an organism exceeds the background concentration of the substance in its diet.

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.

The reaction of $$SO_3 $$ with water vapour in the atmosphere causes $$H_2SO_4$$. The $$H_2SO_4$$ produced in the atmosphere combines with water particles in the air for aerosol and comes down as acid rain.
Acid rain has affected several historical buildings made up of limestone marble such as Taj Mahal, Victoria Memorial, marble statues of Greece and Italy.

The thermosphere is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere directly above the mesosphere and directly below the exosphere.

From highest to lowest, the five main layers are :

SO2SO2 is formed as a major pollutant. So, lung diseases are four times more in urban areas than in rural areas.

• Greenhouse effect is a natural process that warms the Earth's surface. When the Sun's energy reaches the Earth's atmosphere, some of it is reflected back to space and the rest is absorbed and re-radiated by greenhouse gases. The greenhouse gasses trap heat and make air less permeable, thus, raising the temperature across the globe which is responsible for the melting of polar ice caps.

• Acid rain is rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, i.e. it has elevated levels of hydrogen ions. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure. Acid rain damages buildings and structures because it dissolves the stone or corrodes the metal that is exposed to the weather. The phenomenon is also called Marble cancer.

• The ozone layer or ozone shield is a region of Earth's stratosphere that absorbs most of the Sun's ultraviolet radiation. Ozone layer depletion increases the amount of ultraviolet-B (UVB) rays that reach the Earth's surface. Negative effects include skin cancers, eye cataracts, and immune deficiency disorders in human beings. It also affects plant growth, reducing agricultural productivity. 

• 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. In photochemical smog, nitrogen oxides are irritating to the eyes, skin, nose, mucous membranes, and respiratory tract.

Hence, the correct matches will be:

$$A-3, B-2, C-1, D-4$$

Therefore, option (B) is the correct answer. 

Dust is the particulate matter that causes choking and air pollution. It's allergic to people suffering from lungs diseases.