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Environmental
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Chapter - 14
H
H
Environmental
Chemistry

60
Chemistry
FAST TRACK : QUICK REVISION

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► Environmental pollution: Environmental pollution is the effect of
undesirable changes in our surroundings that have harmful effects on plants,
animals and human beings. A substance which causes pollution is known
as pollutant. Pollutants can be degradable and non-degradable.
ID
► Atmospheric pollution: Any undesirable changes in their atmosphere
which adversely effect living beings is called air pollution. Air pollution is
generally limited to troposphere and stratosphere.
U
Ozone is present in stratosphere and prevents UV radiations of sun from
reaching the earth’s surface.
► Tropospheric pollution: It is due to gaseous and particulate pollutants.
YG

1. Gaseous air pollutants:

Oxides of sulphur: Major sources of oxides of sulphur (mainly SO2) are
burning of fossil fuels containing sulphur. Sulphur dioxide is converted to
sulphur trioxide in presence of particulat matter.
D

2SO2+O2 → 2SO3
Sulphur dioxide is a corrosive gas which produces acid rain that causes
damage and destruction of vegetation and degradation of soils, building
U

materials and watercourses. SO2 in ambient air is also associated with asthma
and chronic bronchitis. It also causes irritation to eyes.
ST

● Oxides of nitrogen: Major sources of nitrogen oxides are high

temperature combustion processes, oxidation of nitrogen in the air and
fuel respectively, denitrifying bacteria, etc.
N2 + O2 → 2NO
2NO + O2 → 2NO2
NO + O3 → NO2 + O2
 Finally, these gases are converted into nitric acid (HNO3) which comes
down to the surface of the earth in the form of acid rain.
— NO2 is a respiratory irritant,
— The oxides produce eye irritation, injury to liver and kidneys.
●
Hydrocarbons: They are majorly produced naturally (e.g. marsh gas)
as well as due to incomplete combustion of automobile fuel.

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— Hydrocarbons are carcinogenic, these harm plants.
● Oxides of carbon: two major pollutants are oxides of carbon i.e.,
carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

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● Carbon monoxide: Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas which is
emitted into atmosphere by incomplete combustion of coal and firewood
and by oxidation of hydrocarbons and other organic compounds.
CO may reduce the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood by
combining with haemoglobin to produce carboxyhaemoglobin, This

●
cardiovascular disorders. ID
oxygen deficiency results in headache weak eyesight, choking and

Carbon dioxide: CO2 is released into atmosphere by respiration

U
burning of fossil fuels, forest fire decomposition of limestone in cement
industry, etc.
— It is a greenhouse gas, the concentration of which is constantly raising.
YG

— In excess it causes headache and nausea.

► Greenhouse effect and global warming: The greenhouse effect is the
process in which the emission of infrared radiation by the atmosphere warms
the Earth surface.
● Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide, methane, ozone
D

chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and water vapour.

● Earth absorbs energy from sunlight entering the atmosphere and emit
U

energy out to space in form of infrared rays. The outgoing radiation

emitted by the surface is in the absorption range of many atmospheric
gases, including carbon dioxide, methane, and water vapour. These
ST

radiations are thus locked in the earth's atmosphere. This results in

the steady increase in the temperature of the earth resulting in global
warming.
► Acid rain: Rainwater normally has a pH of 5.6 due to dissolution of CO2
present in the atmosphere.
CO2 + H2O = H2CO3 = H+ + HCO-3

Environmental Chemistry 235

 ●
When the pH Falls below 5.6, the rain water becomes acidic, It is
caused due to presence of acidic gases into the atmosphere the common
ones are sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which are changed into
sulphuric acid and nitric acid by combining with oxygen and water.
2SO2 + O2 + 2H2O → 2H2SO4
4NO2 + O2 + 2H2O → 4HNO3

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● Harmful effects of acid rain: It is causes extensive damage to buildings
and statues made by marble, limestone due to the reaction,
CaCO3 + H2SO4 → CaSO4 + CO2 + H2O
— It is toxic to vegetation and aquatic life.

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— It corrodes water pipes resulting in the leaching of the heavy metals
such as Fe, Pb, and Cu into the drinking water which have toxic effects.
2. Particulate pollutants: Particulate pollutants are small solid particles and
liquid droplets suspended in air.

ID
Smoke: it consists of solid or mixture of solid and liquid particles formed
by combustion of organic matter. e.g., cigarette smoke, oil smoke, smoke
from fossil fuel etc.
Dust: It consists of fine particles produced during crushing and grinding of
U
solid materials. Common dust particulate emission include cement, fly ash,
silica dust, from Industries, dust storm, ground limestone, etc.
YG

Mist: These are formed by particles of spray liquids and condensation of

sepals in air. For example, sulphuric acid, mist herbicide or insecticide that
Miss their targets and travel through air from mist.
Fumes: These are produced by condensation of vapours. For example, metal
fumes, metallurgical fumes and alkali fumes.
D

Smog: The word smog has its origin from smoke and fog. It is a major air
pollutant.
Classical smog Photochemical smog
U

Also called as London smog. Also called as Los Angeles smog.

ST

Form due to oxides of sulphur. Formed due to oxides of Nitrogen.

Contains primary pollutants. Content secondary pollutants.
Causes bronchitis and problem
Causes irritation in Eyes.
in lungs.
It is reducing in nature. It is oxidising in nature.

236 Chemistry Class XI

 Formation of photochemical smog: It is formed through sequence of
following reactions:
N2 + O2 → 2NO
(in gasoline)

2NO + O2 → 2NO2
NO2 → NO + O

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O + O 2 → O3
O3 + NO → NO2 + O2
Ozone reacts with hydrocarbons to form Peroxyacetyl nitrate (PAN),

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formaldehyde, acrolein etc. Effects of photochemical smog:
Ozone and PAN are eye irritants. Photochemical smog also corrodes metals
stones buildings materials rubber and painted surfaces.
Measures to control photochemical smog:
ID
Catalytic converters are used in automobiles, which prevent the release
of Nitrogen oxide and hydrocarbon to the atmosphere. Certain plants e.g.
Pinus, Juniparus, Quercus, Pyrus and Vitis can metabolize nitrogen oxide
U
and therefore their plantation could help in this matter.

► Stratospheric pollution: The upper stratosphere consists of considerable

YG

amount of ozone (O3) which protects us from the harmful ultraviolet (UV)
radiations coming from the sun. These radiations causes skin cancer in
humans.
Depletion of Ozone layer : Nitric Oxide and chlorofluorocarbons are found
to be most responsible for depletion of Ozone layer.
D

NO + O3 —→ NO2 + O2
O2 —→ O + O
U

NO2 + O —→ NO + O2
hv •
CF2Cl2 —→ CF2Cl+Cl•
ST

(free radical)

hv CFCl + Cl•
CFCl3 —→ 2
Cl• + O3 —→ ClO• + O2
ClO• + O —→ Cl + O2

Environmental Chemistry 237

 ● Ozone depletion by oxides of Nitrogen:
Nitrous oxide is quite inert, in the stratosphere it is photochemically
converted into more reactive nitric oxide.
NO + O3 —→ NO2 + O2
hv
O2 —→ O+O
NO2 + O —→ NO + O2

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Thus NO is regenerated in chain reaction.
● Effects of ozone depletion:
With the depletion of Ozone layer, more UV radiation filters into

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troposphere.
— UV radiations leads to ageing of skin, cataract, Sunburn, skin cancer,
killing of many phyotplanktons, damage to fish productivity, etc.

ID
Water pollution: Water pollution may be defined as any change in its
physical, chemical, biological properties or contamination with foreign
materials that can adversely affect human beings or reduce its utility for the
intended use.
U
Major water pollutants and their sources:

Pollutants Major sources

YG

natural waste Leaching of minerals slits from soil erosion falling

of organic matter from bank,etc.
organic Chemicals Pesticides, surfactants, detergents, Industrial waste
metals Nuclear power plants, mining, metal plating
D

industries.
man-made wastes Sewage domestic waste, soaps and detergents,
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waste from animal sheds and slaughter houses,

run off from agricultural fields, industrial wastes,
oil pollution.
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● Eutrophication: The process in which nutrient enriched water bodies

support a dense plant population, which kills animal life by depriving
it of Oxygen and results in subsequent loss of biodiversity is known
as eutrophication.

238 Chemistry Class XI

 ● BOD: The amount of oxygen required by bacteria to break down the
organic matter present in a certain volume of a sample of water, is
called Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD)
International standards for drinking water:

Element Permissible limit Effect of excess amount

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Fluoride 1 ppm or 1mg dm-3 Over 10 ppm causes harmful effect
to bones and teeth.
Lead 50ppb Excess amount can damage kidney,
liver reproductive system, etc.

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Nitrate 50ppm Excess amount can cause blue baby
syndrome.
Sulphate 500ppm Excess can cause laxative effects.

►
ID
Soil pollution: Soil pollution is the addition of such chemical substances (in
an indefinite proportion) which deteriorates the quality, texture and mineral
content of the soil and disturbs the biological balance of the organisms in
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it and has little effect on the plant growth.
Some major soil pollutants and their sources:
YG

Pollutants Major sources

Industrial wastes Waste products from paper, sugar, chemical
Industries dumped into the soil.
Agricultural wastes Chemical such as fertilizers pesticides extra used
for killing insects fungi and weeds.
Soil conditioners Used to protect soil fertility but contains several
D

toxic metals like Pb, As, Hg, Cd, etc

Farm wastes Wet slurry, faecal wastes are seeped into the soil.
U

Radioactive pollutants Dumping of nuclear waste into the soil.

► Remedial measures:
● Forestation should be done to check the spread of desert.
ST

— Use of chemical fertilizers should be minimised.

— Recycling, digestion and incineration of urban waste and organic waste
should be done.
— The industrial effluents should not be allowed to discharge into fields.
— The fertility of the soil can be improved by soil rotation and mixed
farming.

Environmental Chemistry 239

 ► Control of environmental pollution:
●
Waste management: Environmental pollution can be controlled to a certain
extent by managing the waste disposal in a proper way.
● Recycling: A large amount of disposed waste materials can be reduced by
recycling the waste.
Thus, it reduces the landfill and converts waste into usable products.

60
► Green chemistry: Green Chemistry may be defined as a strategy to design chemical
process and products that reduces or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous
substances.
● It is an alternative tool for reducing pollution. Green Chemistry includes

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concepts such as waste minimization, solvent selection, atom utilisation,
intensive processing and alternative synthetic routes from sustainable
resources.
● Green chemistry in day-to-day life:
— Dry cleaning of clothes: Tetra chloroethene (Cl2C = CCl2) was earlier

ID
used as solvent for dry cleaning. The compound contaminates the
ground water and is also a suspected carcinogen.
The process using this compound is now being replaced by a process,
where liquefied carbon dioxide, with suitable present is used.
U
— Bleaching of paper: Chlorine gas was used earlier for bleaching paper.
These days, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) with suitable catalyst, which
promotes the bleaching action of hydrogen peroxide, is used.
YG
D
U
ST

240 Chemistry Class XI

 MIND MAP : ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
Smoke
Particulate Dust
Air Pollution Tropospheric Smog
Pollutants Mist
ST
Fumes
Stratospheric Gaseous air
U Pollution Pollutants Classical Photo chemical
• Reducing • Oxidising
• Landon smog • Los angles smog
Oxides Oxides Oxides
Hydrocarbons
D
Ozone layer depletion of S of N of C
e.g.
e.g. e.g. e.g.
SO2SO3 NO2NO3 CO, CO2 CH4

Chlorofluorocarbons
Oxides of nitrogen etc.
• Greenhouse effect & Global warming
• Acid rain
YG
Environmental Pollution
Natural Waste e.g. Leaching of mineral slits from soil erosion.

Organic Chemicals e.g. Pesticides, detergents.

Pollutants Water
Pollution
U
Metals e.g. Nuclear power plants, mining.

Man-made Waste e.g. Sewage domestic waste, industrial wastes.

ID
Degradable Non- Industrial Waste e.g. Waste from paper, sugar industry.
degradable
Agricultural Waste e.g. Chemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides.

Environmental Chemistry
Farm Wastes e.g. Wet slurow, fecal wastes.
Soil Pollution
Radioactive pollutants e.g. Dumping of nuclear waste into the soil.
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241
Soil conditioners e.g. those containing toxic metals like Pb, As,
Hg, Cd etc.
60
 MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQ)

1. Which of the following is not the consequence of global warming?

(a) Increase in average temperature of Earth.
(b) Melting of Himalayan glaciers
(c) Rise in sea level

60
(d) Eutrophication
2. Which of the following statement is incorrect?
(a) Oxidize of Nitrogen in atmosphere can cause depletion of Ozone
layer

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(b) Ozone absorbs infrared rays
(c) Depletion of O2 is due to its chemical reaction with halo alkanes
(d) None of these
3. Which of the following are the hazardous pollutants present in automobile
exhaust gases?
(i) N2
(a) ii and iii
(c) ii and iv
(ii) CO ID
(iii) CH4
(b) i and ii
(d) i and iii
(iv) Oxides of nitrogen
U
4. Which of the following gas causes green house effect to maximum extent?
(a) CH4 (b) Water vapour
YG

(c) N2O (d) CO2

5. The lowest region of atmosphere is?
(a) Stratosphere (b) Troposphere
(c) Mesosphere (d) Hydrosphere
6. Classical smog occurs in place of
D

(a) Excess of NO2 (b) Warm dry climate

(c) Cool humid climate (d) All of these
U

7. When huge amount of sewage is dumped in a river, the BOD

(a) Will increase (b) Will remain unchanged
ST

(c) Will in decrease (d) May increase or decrease

8. Which of the following practices will not come under Green chemistry?
(a) Use of CO2 as solvent instead of Cl2
(b) Use of H2O2 instead of Cl2 for bleaching
(c) Synthesis of ethanal from ethane in one step
(d) Use of tetrachloroethene as a solvent for dry cleaning

242 Chemistry Class XI

 9. Eutrophication causes reduction in
(a) Dissolved salts (b) Dissolved oxygen
(c) Nutrients (d) All of these
10. SO2 and NO2 cause pollution by increasing
(a) Acidity (b) Alkalinity
(c) Buffer action (d) Both (a) and (c)

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ANSWERS: 1.d 2.b 3.c 4.d 5.b 6.c 7.a 8.d 9.d 10. a.

FILL IN THE BLANKS

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1. Three substances normally considered as primary pollutant are ____, ____,
and _____.
2. Sulphur dioxide is mainly produced by the burning of ________.
3. BOD stands for __________.
4.
5.
ID
The single plant nutrient mainly responsible for eutrophication is ______.
The lowest layer of atmosphere is the_______.
U
6. A crucially important species formed by oxygen in stratosphere is _____.
7. _______ is a greenhouse gas.
YG

8. A major class of organic halides that are thought to pose a threat to

stratospheric ozone are _______.
9. The component that distinguishes classical smog from photochemical smog
is _____.
10. Carbon dioxide traps heat in the atmosphere. This is called the ______.
D

Answers : 1. CO, NO 2 , SO 2 2. Coal 3. Biochemical oxygen

demand 4. Phosphate 5. Troposphere 6. Ozone 7. Carbon dioxide 8.
U

Chlorofluorocarbons 9. Sulphur dioxide 10. Greenhouse effect

TRUE AND FALSE TYPE QUESTIONS

ST

1. The troposphere is the region above the stratosphere.

2. Dust, mist, fumes, smoke and smog are particulate pollutants.
3. Carboxyhaemoglobin is less stable than oxyhaemoglobin.
4. Ozone occurs naturally in the troposphere.

Environmental Chemistry 243

 5. Plants such as Pinus, Juniparus, Pyrus and Vitis metabolize nitrogen oxides.
6. Clean water should have BOD of 17 ppm or more.
7. Photochemical smog is a mixture of oxidising pollutants.
8. The exhaust from jet aeroplanes contains nitric oxide, which can destroy
the ozone layer.

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9. PAN is one of the constituents of photochemical smog.
10. DDT is non-biodegradable and persistent.
Answers : 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. F 5. T 6. F 7. T 8. T 9. T 10. T

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MATCH THE COLUMNS
Match the column:
1. Column I Column II
a. CO2

b. CO
i.

ii.
ID
a gas produced by the partial combustion of
many fuels
a gas that occurs naturally in the atmosphere
U
and which is needed for photosynthesis
c. O3 iii. a dangerous gaseous pollutant with
corrosive properties formed by combustion
YG

of fossil fuels.
d. SO2 iv. an allotrope of oxygen found in the upper
atmosphere
2. Match the pollutants (a, b, c, d) in column I with the effects (i, ii, iii, iv)
in column II.
D

Column I Column II
a. Phosphate fertilisers in water i. BOD level of water increases
U

b. Methane in air ii. Acid rain

c. PAN iii. Global warming
ST

d. Nitrogen oxides in air iv. Photochemical oxidant

ANSWERS: 1. a. ii b. i c. iv d. iii
2. a. i b. iii c. iv d. ii

244 Chemistry Class XI

 ASSERTION-REASON TYPE QUESTIONS
In the following questions a statement of Assertion (A) followed by reason(R) is
given. Use the following key to select correct answer.
(a) Both Assertion and Reason are correct and Reason is the correct
explanation of Assertion.
(b) Both Assertion and Reason are correct but Reason is not the correct

60
explanation of Assertion.
(c) Both Assertion and Reason are incorrect.
(d) Assertion is not correct but Reason is correct.

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1. Assertion: The pH of acid rain is less than 5.6.
Reason: Carbon dioxide present in the atmosphere dissolves in rain water
and forms carbonic acid.
2. Assertion: Photochemical smog is oxidizing in nature.

3.
ID
Reason : Photochemical smog contains NO2 and O3, which are formed
during the sequence of reactions.
Assertion: If BOD level of water in a reservoir is less than 5ppm, it is highly
U
polluted.
Reason: High biological oxygen demand means low activity of bacteria in
water.
YG

4. Assertion: Ozone is destroyed by solar radiation in upper atmosphere.

Reason: Thinning of the ozone layer allows excessive UV radiations to
reach the surface of earth.
5. Assertion: Carbondioxide is an of the important greenhouse gas.
Reason: It is largely produced by respiratory function of animals and plants.
D

ANSWERS : 1. b 2. a 3. c 4. d 5. b
U

ONE WORD TYPE QUESTIONS

ST

1. Name the gas which reacts with haemoglobin in blood.

2. In which part of atmosphere is ozone layer present?
3. Besides CO2 name one other green house gas.
4. Which acid is most abundant in acid rain?
5. Name the gas whose release was responsible for Bhopal gas tragedy.

Environmental Chemistry 245

 6. What is the nature of photochemical smog?
7. Write full form of BOD.
8. What is the lowest region of the atmosphere which extends upto a height
of 10 km from sea level?
9. Name the gas which is produced by the incomplete combustion of gasoline.

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10. What does CFC stand for?

1-MARK QUESTIONS

E3
1. Name two gaseous pollutants.
2. What is the size range of particulates?
3. What are primary pollutants?
4. Name two greenhouse gases.
5.
6.
ID
What is the composition of photochemical smog?
What is the composition of classical smog?
U
7. Which are the compounds responsible for ozone layerdepletion?
8. Name the pollutants which has affected Taj Mahal.
YG

9. Name two strong acids present in acid rain.

10. What is PAN?
11. Name two sources of phosphate pollution.
12. When a huge amount of sewage is dumped into a river, what will be the
effect on BOD?
D

13. How is NO formed in atmosphere?

14. In which season the depletion of ozone on Antarctica takes place and when
U

is it replenished?
15. Define acid rain.
ST

2-MARKS QUESTIONS

1. Explain giving reason: The presence of CO reduces the amount of

haemoglobin available in the blood for carrying oxygen to body cells.

246 Chemistry Class XI

 2. Oxygen plays a key role in the troposphere while ozone in stratosphere.
Explain.
3. What is meant by Eutrophication?
4. Define BOD.
5. What is the importance of measuring BOD of a water body?

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6. Why does water with excessive algae growth become polluted?
7. A person was using water supplied by municipality. Due to shortage of water,
he started using underground water, he felt laxative effect. What could be
the cause?

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8. What do you understand by the term Green chemistry?
9. Give two examples each of biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste.
10. List few ways to control photochemical smog.

1.
ID
3-MARKS QUESTIONS

Give three harmful effects of oxides of sulphur.

U
2. What is Global warming? What is its cause?
3. What is photochemical smog and what are its harmful effects?
YG

4. How is classical smog different from photochemical smog?

5. State briefly the reactions causing ozone layer depletion in the stratosphere.
6. How does rain water get contaminated with acidic impurities?
7. Discuss the harmful effects of acid rain.
D

8. Suggest any four methods for waste management.

5-MARKS QUESTIONS
U

1. What is Green house effect? How is it responsible for global warming?

2. How can you apply green chemistry in for the following?
ST

(i) To control photochemical smog

(ii) To avoid use of halogenated solvents in dry cleaning
(iii) To reduce the use of detergents
(iv) To reduce the consumption of petrol and diesel.

Environmental Chemistry 247

 UNIT TEST
Time Allowed: 1 hr Maximum Marks : 20
General Instructions:
(i) All questions are compulsory.
(ii) Maximum marks carried by each question are indicated against it.

60
1. The lowest region of atmosphere is [1]
(a) Stratosphere (b) Troposphere
(c) Mesosphere (d) Hydrosphere
2. Classical smog occurs in place of [1]

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(a) Excess of NO2 (b) Warm dry climate
(c) Cool humid climate (d) All of these
3. Name two Greenhouse gases. [1]
4.

5.
ID
A major class of organic halides that are thought to pose a threat
to stratospheric ozone are ___________.
The single plant nutrient responsible for eutrophication is
[1]

[1]
U
_____________.
6. Explain giving reason: The presence of CO reduces the amount of [2]
haemoglobin available in the blood for carrying oxygen to body cells.
YG

7. How is classical smog different from photochemical smog? [2]

8. Define BOD. What is the importance of measuring BOD of a [3]
water body?
9. How does rain water get contaminated with acidic impurities? [3]
D

Write one harmful effect of acid rain.

10. How can you apply green chemistry for the following? [5]
U

(i) To control photochemical smog

(ii) To avoid use of halogenated solvents in dry cleaning
ST

(iii) To reduce the use of detergents

(iv) To reduce the consumption of petrol and diesel.
****

248 Chemistry Class XI