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🧪 Chemistry  ·  Environmental Chemistry  ·  NEET & JEE

A high BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) value in a water sample indicates:

Answer: Heavily polluted water with a high organic load.

  • A Highly pure drinking water overall in most cases
  • B Low dissolved mineral content under typical conditions
  • C Presence of dissolved toxic metals mainly
  • D Heavily polluted water with a high organic load

Correct answer: D. Heavily polluted water with a high organic load

Explanation: BOD measures oxygen consumed by microbes decomposing organic matter in water over 5 days at 20 degrees C. A high BOD means large amounts of organic waste are present. Clean water has BOD below 5 ppm; very polluted water exceeds 17 ppm.

Classical (London) SmogSources: coal burningSO₂ + particulates + fogReducing typeConditions: cold, humid,early morning, winterVisibility: very low (fog)London, 1952 - ~4000 deathsHarms: eyes, lungs, bronchitisPhotochemical (LA) SmogSources: vehicles, industriesNOx + hydrocarbons + UVOxidising typeConditions: warm, sunny,afternoon, summerProducts: O₃, PAN, acroleinLos Angeles (common in cities)Harms: eyes, rubber cracking

Classical smog is a reducing mixture of SO₂ and fog, while photochemical smog is an oxidising mixture generated by UV-driven reactions of NOx and hydrocarbons.

Concept context

Understand how human activities alter the atmosphere, water, and soil. Covers air pollutants, smog types, ozone depletion, acid rain, greenhouse effect, water and soil pollution, and the principles of green chemistry.

Read the full Environmental Chemistry notes →