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Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Course Name: Environmental

Chemistry and Microbiology
Assignment-0

Week 0
TYPE OF QUESTION: MCQ
Number of questions: 10 Total mark: 20 X 1 = 20

MCQ
Question 1:
After 24 h, only 0.125 g out of an initial quantity of 1 g of a radioisotope remains behind. Its
half-life period is
(a) 7.2 h
(b) 7.99 h
(c) 6.99 h
(d) 10.0 h
Correct Answer: (b) 7.99 h
2.303 𝑎
Detailed Solution: We know, 𝜆 = 𝑙𝑜𝑔
𝑡 𝑎−𝑥
Where, λ = decay constant
t = time elapsed
a = Initial quantity
a-x = quantity remaining
2.303 1
Thus, 𝜆= log = 0.0866 h-1
24 0.125

So, half-life(t1/2)= 0.693/0.0866 = 7.99 h

Question 2:
When 30 30
15P decays to become 14Si, the particle released is
(a) Electron
(b) 𝛼 particle
(c) Neutron
(d) Positron
Correct Answer: (d) Positron

Detailed Solution: 30 0 30
15P → 1e + 14Si
Therefore, the emitted particle is positron.
Question 3:
An acidic buffer solution can be prepared by mixing the solutions of
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Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

(a) ammonium acetate and acetic acid

(b) ammonium chloride and ammonium hydroxide
(c) sulphuric acid and sodium hydroxide
(d) sodium chloride and sodium hydroxide
Correct Answer: (a) ammonium acetate and acetic acid

Detailed Solution: An acidic buffer is prepared by mixing weak acid and salt of its conjugate
base, e.g., acetic acid and ammonium acetate.
Question 4:
The solubility product of A2X3 is 1.08 x 10-23. Its solubility will be
(a) 1.0 x 10-3 M
(b) 1.0 x 10-4 M
(c) 1.0 x 10-5 M
(d) 1.0 X 10-6 M
Correct Answer: (c) 1.0 x 10-5 M

Detailed Solution: We have

𝑘sp = [A3+ ]2 [X 2− ]3 = (2𝑥)2 (3𝑥)3 = 108𝑥 5
1/5 1/5
𝑘sp 1.08 × 10−23 M 5
𝑥=( ) =( ) = 1 × 10−5 M
108 108

Question 5:
A solution is prepared by diluting 20 ml of 0.1 M HCl to 1 liter. The pH of the final solution
is approximately
(a) 1.5
(b) 2.7
(c) 5.3
(d) 1
(e) None of these

Correct Answer: (b) 2.7

Detailed solution:
HCl H+ + Cl-
Concentration of [H+]= (20 x 0.1)/1000 = 2 x 10-3 M
So, pH = -log [H+]= -log (2 x 10-3) = 2.7
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Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur

Question 6:

THMs are produced by the reaction of

(a) Fe2+ with chlorine
(b) Organic matter with chlorine
(c) Organic matter with ozone
(d) Phenol with chlorine dioxide
(e) None of these
Correct Answer: (b) Organic matter with chlorine

Detailed solution:
THMs are a group of disinfection-by-products (chloroform, bromodichloromethane,
dibromochloromethane and bromoform) formed from the reaction between chlorine and
organic matter during the disinfection process.
Question 7:
A mixture of H2 and I2 vapor in molecular proportion of 2:1 was heated at 445 °C till the
change represented by the equation H2 + I2⇄ 2HI reached the equilibrium state. The
equilibrium constant at this temperature is 0.02. The percentage of iodine converted in to
hydrogen iodide is
(Given: At. Wt. of iodine is 127)
(a) 40.2%
(b) 25.0%
(c) 80.0%
(d) 9.3%
(e) None of these
Correct Answer: (d) 9.3%
Detailed solution:
H2 + I2⇄ 2HI
Initial moles: 2 1 0
At Equilibrium: 2-x 1-x 2x (x moles of both H2 and I2 react to form 2x moles of HI)
Equilibrium constant, Kc = [HI]2 / [H2] [I2]
0.02 = (2x)2 / (2-x) (1-x)
x = 0.093
% of I converted to HI = (Final/ Initial)×100 = (0.093/1) ×100 = 9.3%
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Question 8:
A 0.1 M solution of a weak monoprotic organic acid is 1.3% ionized at 25 °C.
The value of Ka is approximately
(a) 2.8×10-3
(b) 1.7×10-5
(c) 5.1×10-5
(d) 4.2×10-6
(e) None of these
Correct Answer: (b) 1.7×10-5
Detailed solution:
Ka = α2 C = (1.3/100)2×0.1 = 1.7×10-5

Question 9:
For the reaction A→ B, it is found that the rate of the reaction increases by a factor of 8 when
the concentration of A is doubled. The reaction is
(a) First order
(b) Second order
(c) Third order
(d) Fourth order
(e) None of these
Correct Answer: (c) Third-order
Detailed Solution: 𝑟1 = 𝑘[𝐴]𝑛
𝑟2 = 8𝑟1 = 𝑘[2𝐴]𝑛
8𝑟1
∴ = [2]𝑛
𝑟1
n=3
Question 10:
The decomposition of hydroxyl amine (NH2OH) in the presence of oxygen follows the rate
expression: Rate = kobs [NH2OH] [O2]
Where kobs is 0.237×10-4 L mol-1 sec-1 at 0°C and rises to 2.64×10-4 L mol-1 sec-1 at 25°C. The
value of Ea is approximately
(a) 65.2 kJ mol-1
(b) 135.1 kJ mol-1
(c) 32.2 kJ mol-1
(d) 288.2 kJ mol-1
(e) None of these
Correct Answer: (a) 65.2 kJ mol-1
Detailed Solution: Using the Arrhenius Equation,𝑘 = 𝐴𝑒 −𝐸𝑎 /𝑅𝑇 at two different

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𝐸 𝐸
𝑘1 −𝑅𝑇𝑎 +𝑅𝑇𝑎
temperatures, and take ratio of =𝑒 1 2
𝑘2
and then taking the loge
𝑘1 𝐸𝑎 1 1
ln 𝑘1 − ln 𝑘2 = ln = − ( − )
𝑘2 𝑅 𝑇1 𝑇2
𝐸𝑎 1 1
−2.4105 = −1 −1
( − )
8.314 JK mol 273 298
𝑬𝒂 = 𝟔𝟓. 𝟐 𝐤𝐉𝐦𝐨𝐥−𝟏

Question 11:

The hereditary material is

a. Protein
b. Lipid
c. Carbohydrate
d. DNA
Correct Answer: DNA

Question 12:

____________ is the basic unit of life

a. Cell
b. DNA
c. Energy
d. Light
Correct Answer: Cell

Question 13:

The chlorophyll in photosynthesis used for ____________

a. Absorbing light
b. Breaking down water molecule
c. No function
d. Reduction of CO2
Correct Answer: Absorbing light
Question 14:

__________ is a biodegradable substance

a. Polythene
b. Plastic
c. Paper
d. Glass
Correct Answer: paper

Question 15:

Arrange the following organisms in order of producer  primary consumer 

Secondary consumer: Rabbit; Carrot and Fox
a. Rabbit  Carrot Fox
b. FoxCarrot Rabbit
c. Rabbit Fox  Carrot
d. Carrot Rabbit  Fox
Correct Answer: Carrot Rabbit  Fox

Question 16:

DTP vaccine is administrated to prevent diseases like _____________

a. Dengue, Polio, and Tetanus
b. Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Typhoid
c. Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus
d. Dengue, Pertussis, and Tetanus
Correct Answer: Diphtheria, Pertussis, and Tetanus

Question 17:
What is the most important characteristic of an organism to sustain its species
a. Evolution
b. Reproduction
c. Differentiation
d. Communication
Correct Answer: Reproduction

Question 18:
Who gave the classification of living organisms based on nutrition
a. Whittaker
b. Carl Lineus
c. Carl Woese
d. None
Correct Answer: Whittaker
Question 19:
Which of the following types of microorganisms is photosynthetic?
a. Yeast
b. Virus
c. Helminth
d. Algae
Correct Answer: Algae

Question 20:

__________is the most active stage in the bacterial growth curve

a. Lag Phase
b. Stationary Phase
c. Log Phase
d. Decline Phase
Correct Answer: Log Phase