Environmental Chemistry Test - 1

The greatest sources of CO to outdoor air are cars, trucks and other vehicles or machinery that burn fossil fuels. A variety of items in your home such as unvented kerosene and gas space heaters, leaking chimneys and furnaces, and gas stoves also release CO and can affect air quality indoors.

Sulphur dioxide (SO₂) is a dangerous pollutant with a potential to form sulphuric acid when mixed with water vapour. Hence, it causes acid rain.
All the other options are also harmful pollutants, but do not contribute to acid rain.
Carbon monoxide is a highly dangerous gas with a high potential for causing respiratory ailments.
Hydrogen cyanide is formed as a byproduct when cyanide chemicals are used in manufacturing process. It is a highly corrosive and poisonous gas, leading to eye irritation, respiratory problems as well as other complications.
Carbon dioxide is also a pollutant when generated in large quantities as it contributes to global warming.

Sulphur dioxide is a gaseous pollutant which is capable of forming sulphuric acid.

High concentration of CO₂ in atmosphere has been the main component of greenhouse effect.

Nitrogen is not a greenhouse gas, while N₂O, CO₂, CH₄, O₃ and CCI₂F₂ are greenhouse gases.
Greenhouse gases are responsible for the increase in global temperatures by trapping the short wavelength radiations.

Trapping of sun rays by the atmosphere causes greenhouse effect.

Smog is a mixture of smoke and fog.

In many industries, ammonia gas (NH₃) is used as a reducing agent. It is a corrosive gas with a high potentiality of causing throat irritation, burning of pharynx, oesophagus, etc. It can also cause digestive problems when excess gas is inhaled.

Sulphur dioxide is one of the dangerous pollutants with a potentiality to form sulphuric acid when mixed with water vapour. Water vapour commonly available in the air can mix with SO₂ gas and produce sulphuric acid. Such sulphuric acid is the cause of acid rain.

Hydrogen sulphide is one of the dangerous, pungent pollutant gases with many deleterious effects on the respiratory tract. It is released from many industries as a part of the sulphonation process.

When cyanide chemicals are used in the manufacturing process, hydrogen cyanide is formed as a by-product. It is a highly corrosive and poisonous gas, leading to eye irritation, respiratory problems as well as other complications. In high doses, it can cause death.

SO₂ is poisonous and irritates the respiratory system of animals and humans. A continuous exposure to concentration of 0.2 ppm lasting for 3-4 days or even 0.5 ppm for full day has been reported to damage the lungs and increase the rate of mortality. In plants and grasses, SO₂ also produces leaf injuries, called necrotic blotching. Sulphur dioxide damages barley, alfalfa, cotton and wheat.

Carbon monoxide is harmful when breathed because it displaces oxygen in the blood and deprives the heart, brain and other vital organs of oxygen.