Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Science and Technology)
2 previous year UPSC Prelims questions on Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry (Science and Technology). Choose an option to see the answer and explanation.
Explanations state facts as of the year each question was asked; words like “recently” refer to that year.
Showing 1–2 of 2 questions
UPSC 2010Science and Technology · Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry
Q1. Consider the following: 1. Oxides of Hydrogen 2. Oxides of Nitrogen 3. Oxides of Sulphur Which of the above causes/cause acid rain?
Explanation
Acid rain occurs when certain pollutants in the atmosphere react with water vapor to form acids, which then fall to the ground as rain, snow, or fog. The pollutants responsible for acid rain are primarily oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulfur.
Option 1 is incorrect: Hydrogen itself does not form acidic oxides under typical environmental conditions. The concept of oxides of hydrogen is not commonly associated with acid rain.
Option 2 is correct: Nitrogen oxides, such as nitrogen dioxide, combine with water vapor in the atmosphere to form nitric acid, which contributes to acid rain.
Option 3 is correct: Sulfur oxides, such as sulfur dioxide, react with water vapor to form sulfuric acid, which is another major contributor to acid rain.
UPSC 2010Science and Technology · Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry
Q2. Excessive release of the pollutant carbon monoxide (CO) into the air may produce a condition in which oxygen supply in the human body decreases. What causes this condition?
Explanation
When carbon monoxide (CO) is inhaled, it binds to hemoglobin in red blood cells with a much stronger affinity than oxygen. Hemoglobin normally binds to oxygen to transport it throughout the body, but CO binds more tightly, forming carboxyhemoglobin. This reduces the ability of hemoglobin to carry oxygen effectively, leading to a decrease in oxygen supply to vital organs and tissues. Carbon monoxide (CO) has approximately 200-250 times more affinity for hemoglobin than oxygen, which means it competes with oxygen for binding sites on hemoglobin.
Answer key for these questions
Q
UPSC year
Correct answer
1
2010
(c) 2 and 3 only
2
2010
(b) The inhaled CO has much higher affinity for haemoglobin as compared to oxygen.
Frequently asked questions
How many previous year UPSC questions are there on Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry?
This page covers 2 previous year UPSC Prelims GS Paper-I questions on Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry (Science and Technology), asked from 1996 to 2010. Each has the correct answer and an explanation.
How should I use previous year UPSC questions for Prelims?
Attempt each question first, then open the answer and read the explanation for every option. Repeat by chapter, and track which statements UPSC reuses across years. Previous year questions show the exam pattern and difficulty level.
Which years are covered for Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry?
Questions on Chemistry: Environmental Chemistry (Science and Technology) are available for 5 years, from 1996 to 2010. Use the Year filter to practise a single paper.
