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🧪 Chemistry  ·  Environmental Chemistry  ·  NEET & JEE

The addition of excess phosphate-containing detergents and fertilisers to a lake leads to eutrophication, whose immediate chemical consequence is:

Answer: Rapid algal growth followed by oxygen depletion when the algae decay.

  • A Increase in dissolved oxygen supporting fish
  • B Rapid algal growth followed by oxygen depletion when the algae decay
  • C A rise in lake water pH to strongly basic values
  • D Precipitation of all dissolved nutrients as insoluble metal salts

Correct answer: B. Rapid algal growth followed by oxygen depletion when the algae decay

Explanation: Nutrient enrichment causes algal blooms; when the algae die, their decomposition by bacteria consumes dissolved oxygen, killing fish and other aquatic organisms.

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 →