Environmental Chemistry Quiz 2

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Environmental Chemistry Quiz 2 - Quiz

Environmental chemistry is the scientific study of the chemical and biochemical phenomena that occur in natural places. This branch of science helps us to understand the effects of pollutants, how to reduce the contamination and how to manage the environment. Test your knowledge of this branch below. All the best!


Questions and Answers
  • 1. 

    Fresh spring water can have problems with water quality.  One reason is because water can have harmful acid in it.  What it looks like is an indicator of water quality that is referred to as ….

    • A.

      Clarity

    • B.

      Acuity

    • C.

      Humidity

    • D.

      Turbidity

    Correct Answer
    A. Clarity
    Explanation
    Fresh spring water can have problems with water quality due to harmful acid content. The indicator of water quality referred to in the question is clarity. Clarity refers to how clear or transparent the water appears. If the water is cloudy or has impurities, it indicates poor water quality. Therefore, clarity is an important factor in determining the overall quality of fresh spring water.

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  • 2. 

    This type of chemical indicator is used to determine the level of plant nutrients in a sample of water, indicating the presence of …

    • A.

      Sulfur and silicon

    • B.

      Carbon and hydrogen

    • C.

      Nitrogen and potassium

    • D.

      Oxygen and carbon dioxide

    Correct Answer
    C. Nitrogen and potassium
    Explanation
    This type of chemical indicator is used to determine the level of plant nutrients in a sample of water, indicating the presence of nitrogen and potassium. Nitrogen and potassium are essential nutrients for plants and are often found in fertilizers. By detecting the presence of these elements in water, the indicator can provide information about the nutrient levels available for plant growth.

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  • 3. 

    This type of indicator is used to determine the level of plant nutrients in a sample of water. 

    • A.

      Invertebrates only

    • B.

      Chemical indicators

    • C.

      Biological organisms

    • D.

      Micro-biological organisms

    Correct Answer
    B. Chemical indicators
    Explanation
    Chemical indicators are used to determine the level of plant nutrients in a sample of water. They are substances that change color or undergo a chemical reaction in the presence of specific plant nutrients, allowing for their detection and quantification. Unlike biological organisms or micro-biological organisms, chemical indicators do not rely on living organisms to indicate the nutrient levels. Instead, they provide a direct and objective measurement of the nutrient concentration in the water sample.

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  • 4. 

    Only certain chemicals are measured in parts per billion and parts per trillion.  One of these chemicals is PCB (polychlorinated biphenyl).  The reason that its level is constantly monitored in parts per trillion is because the chemical …

    • A.

      Decompose easily

    • B.

      Magnifies up the food chain

    • C.

      Magnifies down the food chain

    • D.

      Reacts with organic compounds

    Correct Answer
    B. Magnifies up the food chain
    Explanation
    PCBs are known to be persistent organic pollutants that can bioaccumulate in the environment. This means that they can accumulate in the tissues of organisms and increase in concentration as they move up the food chain. As smaller organisms are consumed by larger ones, the PCBs are transferred and become more concentrated in the bodies of the top predators. Therefore, the level of PCBs is constantly monitored in parts per trillion to assess the potential risk to organisms at higher trophic levels.

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  • 5. 

    Aquatic invertebrates are called biological indicators because they indicate water quality.  The aquatic invertebrate illustrated here is a …

    • A.

      Midge larva

    • B.

      Stonefly larva

    • C.

      Water boatman

    • D.

      Mosquito larva

    Correct Answer
    D. Mosquito larva
    Explanation
    Mosquito larvae are considered biological indicators because their presence in water bodies indicates poor water quality. Mosquitoes typically lay their eggs in stagnant or polluted water, making their larvae more likely to be found in such conditions. Therefore, the presence of mosquito larvae suggests the water may be contaminated or lacking in oxygen, making them a useful indicator species for assessing water quality.

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  • 6. 

    Aquatic invertebrates are called biological indicators because they indicate water quality.  The aquatic invertebrate illustrated here is a …

    • A.

      Midge larva

    • B.

      Stonefly nymph

    • C.

      Water boatman

    • D.

      Mosquito larva

    Correct Answer
    C. Water boatman
    Explanation
    Water boatman is the correct answer because aquatic invertebrates are known as biological indicators as they can provide information about the quality of water. Water boatman, also known as Corixidae, are commonly found in freshwater environments and are sensitive to changes in water quality. They are often used as indicators of pollution or contamination in aquatic ecosystems. Their presence or absence, as well as their abundance, can provide valuable insights into the health of the water body.

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  • 7. 

    Aquatic invertebrates are called biological indicators because they indicate water quality.  The aquatic invertebrate illustrated here is a …

    • A.

      Midge larva

    • B.

      Stonefly nymph

    • C.

      Water boatman

    • D.

      Mosquito larva

    Correct Answer
    B. Stonefly nymph
    Explanation
    Aquatic invertebrates are used as biological indicators because they are sensitive to changes in water quality. Stonefly nymphs are particularly good indicators because they are very sensitive to pollution and can only survive in clean, well-oxygenated water. Therefore, the presence of stonefly nymphs indicates that the water is of high quality.

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  • 8. 

    The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water supports different varieties of invertebrates.  Which of the organisms in the question above would you likely find in water that has a dissolved oxygen level of 2?

    • A.

      Midge larva

    • B.

      Stonefly nymph

    • C.

      Water boatman

    • D.

      Mosquito larva

    Correct Answer
    A. Midge larva
    Explanation
    Midge larvae are commonly found in water with low levels of dissolved oxygen. They have adapted to survive in such conditions and are able to extract enough oxygen from the water to sustain themselves. Stonefly nymphs, water boatmen, and mosquito larvae, on the other hand, require higher levels of dissolved oxygen and would be less likely to be found in water with a dissolved oxygen level of 2.

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  • 9. 

    A freshwater biologist tested the level of dissolved oxygen in a section of the creek and found that it was quite low.  The biologist was able to increase the level of dissolved oxygen by doing all of the following EXCEPT …

    • A.

      Adding ice to the water

    • B.

      Planting additional water plants

    • C.

      Placing large boulders upstream

    • D.

      Placing large boulders downstream

    Correct Answer
    D. Placing large boulders downstream
    Explanation
    Placing large boulders downstream would not increase the level of dissolved oxygen in the creek. Dissolved oxygen levels are typically increased by adding oxygen to the water or increasing the surface area for oxygen exchange. Adding ice to the water can increase dissolved oxygen levels by cooling the water and increasing its ability to hold oxygen. Planting additional water plants can increase dissolved oxygen levels through photosynthesis, where plants release oxygen into the water. Placing large boulders upstream can increase dissolved oxygen levels by creating turbulence and increasing the surface area for oxygen exchange. Therefore, placing large boulders downstream is the only option that would not contribute to increasing dissolved oxygen levels.

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  • 10. 

    Measuring small amounts of chemicals in water is done using the ppm method.  To determine how harmful the amount is, another method is used.  This method determines how much of a particular chemical will harm (kill) fifty percent of the test population.  The measurement is …

    • A.

      KP50 (Kill Population 50)

    • B.

      HP50 (Harm Population 50)

    • C.

      LD50 (Lethal Dose 50)

    • D.

      LA50 (Legal Amount 50)

    Correct Answer
    C. LD50 (Lethal Dose 50)
    Explanation
    The correct answer is LD50 (Lethal Dose 50). LD50 refers to the amount of a particular chemical that is lethal and will cause death in 50% of the test population. This method is used to determine the harmfulness of a chemical by measuring the dosage that will result in a 50% mortality rate. It is commonly used in toxicology studies to assess the toxicity of substances and determine safe exposure levels.

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  • 11. 

    50 represents 50% of the subject group that will die, if they are given the specified dose, …

    • A.

      Over 50 hours

    • B.

      In 50 doses

    • C.

      All at once

    • D.

      50 time

    Correct Answer
    C. All at once
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "all at once" because if the specified dose is given to the subject group all at once, it is likely to cause a high level of toxicity or adverse effects, leading to a high mortality rate. This suggests that administering the dose all at once would result in the death of the entire subject group.

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  • 12. 

    Most of our chemical effects information for humans comes from …

    • A.

      Case studies during the 1950’s

    • B.

      Accidental-exposure case studies

    • C.

      Experiments during the World Wars

    • D.

      Stories that were once urban legends

    Correct Answer
    B. Accidental-exposure case studies
    Explanation
    Accidental-exposure case studies provide valuable information about the chemical effects on humans. These studies involve individuals who have been unintentionally exposed to certain chemicals, allowing researchers to observe and analyze the resulting effects. Unlike experiments during the World Wars or stories that were once urban legends, accidental-exposure case studies are based on real-life scenarios and provide more reliable and concrete data. Therefore, they serve as a crucial source of information for understanding the effects of chemicals on human health.

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  • 13. 

    A correct explanation of this statement – “The LD50 of DDT is 87mg/kg, for rats, by mouth.” is …

    • A.

      50 rats will survive if they eat 87 mg of DDT

    • B.

      50 rats will die if they are given less than the 87mg/kg of DDT

    • C.

      50% of the test population of rats will die if given 87 mg of DDT

    • D.

      50% of the rat test pop. will survive if given 87mg/kg of body weight of DDT

    Correct Answer
    D. 50% of the rat test pop. will survive if given 87mg/kg of body weight of DDT
    Explanation
    The LD50 of DDT is a measure of the lethal dose at which 50% of the test population will die. In this case, the LD50 is 87mg/kg for rats by mouth. This means that if rats are given 87mg of DDT for every kilogram of their body weight, 50% of them will survive.

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  • 14. 

    A correct explanation of this statement – “The LD50 of arsenic is 34mg/kg, for rabbits, by injection.” is …

    • A.

      50% of the rabbit test pop. died when given 34mg/kg of body weight of arsenic

    • B.

      34% of the test population of rabbits will die if given 50 mg of arsenic

    • C.

      50 rabbits will die if they are given less than the 34mg/kg of arsenic

    • D.

      34 rabbits will die if they eat 50 mg of arsenic of body weight

    Correct Answer
    A. 50% of the rabbit test pop. died when given 34mg/kg of body weight of arsenic
    Explanation
    The LD50 value represents the lethal dose at which 50% of the test population dies. In this case, the statement indicates that when rabbits were injected with 34mg of arsenic per kilogram of body weight, 50% of them died. Therefore, the correct explanation is that 50% of the rabbit test population died when given 34mg/kg of body weight of arsenic.

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  • 15. 

    It is now a well-known fact that mercury is a harmful heavy metal.  Headbands on hats were treated in mercury before the harmful effects of mercury were known.  This helps to explain the abnormal behavior of this character, from ‘Alice In Wonderland’.

    • A.

      The Mad Hatter

    • B.

      The Calico Cat

    • C.

      The White Rabbit

    • D.

      The Queen of Hearts

    Correct Answer
    A. The Mad Hatter
    Explanation
    The Mad Hatter is the correct answer because the passage states that headbands on hats were treated in mercury before the harmful effects of mercury were known. Since the Mad Hatter is known for wearing hats with a headband, it can be inferred that he may have been exposed to mercury, which could explain his abnormal behavior.

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  • 16. 

    Acid shock is an environmental event (spring snow melt and runoff into streams and rivers) that causes serious harm to these …

    • A.

      Bacteria and fungi

    • B.

      Very old organisms

    • C.

      Eggs and young offspring

    • D.

      Only mayflies and stoneflies

    Correct Answer
    C. Eggs and young offspring
    Explanation
    Acid shock, caused by spring snow melt and runoff into streams and rivers, can have serious harmful effects on eggs and young offspring. The acidity of the water can negatively impact the development and survival of these vulnerable stages of organisms, potentially leading to population declines or even extinction. This is particularly relevant for species such as fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates that rely on healthy water conditions for successful reproduction and early life stages.

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  • 17. 

    Calcium sulfate (gypsum) is recovered when sulfur dioxide reacts with calcium carbonate.  This recovery of calcium sulfate from smokestacks is possible using this technology …

    • A.

      Oxidizer

    • B.

      Scrubber

    • C.

      Catalytic converter

    • D.

      Fractional distillator

    Correct Answer
    B. Scrubber
    Explanation
    This technology refers to a scrubber. A scrubber is a device used to remove pollutants from smokestack emissions. In this case, it is used to recover calcium sulfate (gypsum) from the emissions by reacting sulfur dioxide with calcium carbonate. The scrubber acts as a cleaning mechanism, trapping and removing the calcium sulfate particles from the smokestack emissions.

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Our quizzes are rigorously reviewed, monitored and continuously updated by our expert board to maintain accuracy, relevance, and timeliness.

  • Current Version
  • Mar 20, 2023
    Quiz Edited by
    ProProfs Editorial Team
  • Mar 20, 2012
    Quiz Created by
    GPCS
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