Notes - Pollution of Air and Water

DPS MODERN INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA,
CLASS VIII SUBJECT: CHEMISTRY

Pollution of air and water
Prepared by: Ms. Niya Jacob
Q1. Define air pollution. Name the natural processes which are
responsible for air pollution.
Ans. The presence of toxic chemicals or compounds in the air that pose a
health risk. Any substance in the air that can cause harm to living
beings and the environment is known as air pollutants.
Natural causes of air pollution are forest fires, dust storms, volcanic
activity etc.
Q2. What is SPM? Mention its two types.

Ans. SPM stands for Suspended Particulate Matter. These are minute
solids in the air in the form of smoke or dust that can remain
suspended for long periods and is also source of haze which
reduces visibility.
Particulate matter is divided into two types

i) Coarse particles- These are formed from sources such as road
dust, sea spray and construction activities.
ii) Fine particles- These are formed from when fuel is burnt in
automobiles and power plants.
Q3. Name the pollutants released by smoke from vehicles.

Ans. The pollutants are carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide,
chlorofluorocarbon and lead.
Q4. Name the gas produced during incomplete combustion. What
happens when we inhale this gas?
Ans.
Carbon monoxide gas is released due to incomplete combustion.
When carbon monoxide gas is inhaled, it combines with the oxygen
present in the haemoglobin of the blood to form
carboxyhaemoglobin. It reduces the oxygen carrying capacity of
Q5. blood. This leads to suffocation and can also cause death.
Ans
What are the adverse effects of lead on humans?
Lead can be dangerous for small children and can lead to lower IQs
and kidney problems.
For adults, there is increase in chance of having heart attacks and
Q6.
strokes.
Ans
What is CFC?Where are CFC’s used? How are they harmful to us?
CFC stands for chlorofluorocarbon. This is an organic compound
that contains carbon, chlorine and fluorine.
CFC is used in refrigerators, air conditioners and aerosol sprays.
It can cause damage to the ozone layer that protects the earth from
the sun’s UV radiation.
Q7. What is smog? How is it harmful to us?

Ans. The word smog is derived from the combination of two words
smoke and fog. It is formed when various gases, water vapour and
smoke settle on dust particles. It causes diseases such as
emphysema, bronchitis, asthma.
Q8.
Ans. What is acid rain? How is it caused? Mention its harmful effects.
This occurs when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from the
burning fossil fuels combine with water vapour in the atmosphere
and fall as rain.
It causes damage to water, forest, soil resources and human health.
It can react with marble and so affects all buildings, monuments
Q9. and statues made of marble.
Ans.
Write any three preventive measures to protect air pollution.
1) Using alternative source of energy such as nuclear energy and
solar energy.
Q10. 2) Building factories away from cities.
Ans. 3) Growing more trees to absorb carbon dioxide.
What are the measures taken by the government to save Taj?
Steps taken to protect Taj are:
i) Creation of a green buffer zone (tree plantation) around Taj to
reduce pollution.
ii) Coal based industrial units have been asked to switch to gas
Q11. based fuel or close down the units.
iii) Vehicles are strictly checked for pollution and vehicular traffic
Ans. around Taj has been banned.
What is water pollution? Write any three steps to prevent water

pollution.
Water pollution is the contamination of water bodies by discharge
of undesirable substances that are toxic and poisonous. These
undesirable substances are called water pollutants.
Steps to water pollution are:
Q12.
Ans. i) Don’t bathe and wash clothes near water bodies.
ii) Do not throw litter in to rivers, lakes or oceans.
iii) Industrial waste should be treated before discharging them into
rivers and lakes.
Define eutrophication. How is eutrophication harmful to aquatic

animals?
Q13. The excess fertilizers carried to the water bodies make it rich in
Ans. nutrients, which in turn lead to excessive growth of algae. This is
known as eutrophication. This algae, for survival and
decomposition utilizes the dissolved oxygen in water, leading to
reduced level of oxygen in water. Thus aquatic animals die due to
lack of oxygen.
Q14. What is potable water? Write 3 properties of portable water.

Ans. Water which is fit for consumption by humans and other animals.
Properties of portable water are:

i) Colourless, transparent, and transparent.
ii) Free from suspended impurities, germs and pathogenic bacteria.
iii) Dissolved mineral salts of sodium, calcium and magnesium.
Q15.
Ans. What are the objectives of Ganga Action Plan?
a) Treatment of domestic sewage and reduce the toxic and
industrial chemical waste.
b) Control water pollution caused by agricultural runoff, human
defecation and cattle wallowing.
c) Monitor the throwing of unburnt and half- burnt bodies into the
water.
How is water purified in Water treatment plant?

Water is purified in Water treatment plant in these stages:
A) Screening:
Water from the source is passed through screen filters to remove
big particles such as leaves, twigs and other impurities.
B) Sedimentation:
The sedimentation is done in water treatment plant where the
muddy water is allowed to stand in large sedimentation tanks. The
heavy impurities settle down while the impurities which are
suspended are removed by adding alum. The impurities along with
bacteria become heavy and settle down on coagulation with alum
C) Filtration:
Q16. The clear water obtained from sedimentation process is sent for
Ans. filtering. In filtration the water is passed through layers of gravel,
pebbles, broken bricks, charcoal and sand.
Charcoal- helps in removing colouring matter
Sand- it traps the suspended impurities.
Water after filtration comes out free of impurities.
D) Chlorination:
Chlorination is done on the water obtained after filtration. Here
either liquid chlorine, or bleaching powder or sodium hypochlorite
is added to water to kill harmful germs. The water after
chlorination is sent to water testing laboratories and is pumped into
public water supply.
Q17. Explain the methods to purify water at home.

Ans. The following steps can be used to purify water:
1) Boiling: This process can be put to use only for small quantities
of water. The bacteria and germs get killed when it is heated to its
boiling point.
Q18. 2. Chemical treatment: water can be purified by adding
Ans. disinfectants such as potassium permanganate and bleaching
powder to kills germs and harmful bacteria. Water is then boiled
before drinking.
Q19. 3) Water purifying gadgets: This involves
Ceramic candle- Water is passed over these candles. The candles
Ans. have fine pores for removing suspended impurities. The impurities
do not pass through the pores and are deposited on surface.
Water purifiers- They have activated charcoal and ultraviolet rays
along with ceramic filters to purify water.
Name the various causes of water pollution.

a)Domestic sewage
Q20. b) Agricultural runoff
Ans. c) Industrial effluents
d) Oil spills
e) Thermal pollution
Q21.
Ans. Why ozone layer is important for all living things?
Ozone layer is important for all living things because it absorbs
harmful UV radiations and acts as a shield. Exposure to UV
radiations causes skin cancer, eye damage etc.
Q22.
Ans. What is thermal pollution? How it is harmful for aquatic plants and
animals?
Power plants and other factories use the water from streams or
lakes as a coolant. The hot water is the returned to the water bodies
thereby increasing their temperature. This is called thermal
pollution.
The increased temperature and reduced supply of oxygen affects
aquatic life, causing the death of plants and animals.
How do oil spills affect marine life?

Oil on ocean surfaces is harmful to many forms of aquatic life
because it prevents sufficient amounts of sunlight from penetrating
the surface, and it also reduces the level of dissolved oxygen.
Why is CNG considered to be a better fuel than coal and diesel?

CNG does not cause any pollution after burning. CNG emits fewer
pollutants like carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides and
particulate matter as compared to petrol and diesel.
How hot water act as a pollutant?

Hot Water contains less oxygen as compared to cold water. so,
when it is mixed to normal water, the oxygen content decreases
which results in the death of aquatic life. Therefore their bodies also
floats up and pollutes water. Thus, hot water also acts as pollutants.

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DPS MODERN INDIAN SCHOOL, DOHA,

CLASS VIII SUBJECT: CHEMISTRY

Q2. What is SPM? Mention its two types.

Particulate matter is divided into two types

Q3. Name the pollutants released by smoke from vehicles.

Q7. What is smog? How is it harmful to us?

What is water pollution? Write any three steps to prevent water

Define eutrophication. How is eutrophication harmful to aquatic

Q14. What is potable water? Write 3 properties of portable water.

Properties of portable water are:

How is water purified in Water treatment plant?

Q17. Explain the methods to purify water at home.

Name the various causes of water pollution.

How do oil spills affect marine life?

Why is CNG considered to be a better fuel than coal and diesel?

How hot water act as a pollutant?

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