Practice of Part 1-Theory-Introduction PDF

Practice of Part 1 1- What is the definition of pollution? Answer: Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as rad...

Practice of Part 1 1- What is the definition of pollution? Answer: Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). 2- Describe primary and secondary air pollutants. Give some examples. Answer: Primary air pollutants: Pollutants that are formed and emitted directly from particular sources. Examples are particulates, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, and sulfur oxide. Secondary air pollutants: Pollutants that are formed in the lower atmosphere by chemical reactions. The two examples are ozone and secondary organic aerosol (haze). 3- What is the meaning of biochemical pathways? Answer: Biochemical pathways are a series of chemical reactions occurring in a living system. These pathways are necessary for maintaining the homeostasis of the organism and to keep it alive. So essentially, these pathways consist of a series of enzyme-activated reactions where the product of one reaction becomes the substrate for the next reaction to follow. 4- Define emerging pollutants (EPs) and give some examples of them. Answer: Emerging Pollutants: Emerging pollutants (EPs) are defined as synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals that are not commonly monitored in the environment although having the potential to enter into the environment and cause adverse impacts on the environment as well on human health. 5- Describe the classification of pollutants based on origin. Answer: 1|Page Pollutants can be classified based on their origin into two broad categories: point source and non- point source pollutants. Point source pollutants originate from identifiable, localized sources, such as industrial discharges or sewage outfalls. Non-point source pollutants, on the other hand, stem from diffuse sources, like agricultural runoff or atmospheric deposition. 6- Explain the greenhouse effect. Answer: Certain pollutants, like carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O), are classified as greenhouse gases. While they are essential for regulating the Earth's temperature, elevated levels contribute to global warming and climate change, emphasizing the interconnectedness of environmental issues. 7- Define the ecosystem. Answer: An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. 8- What is the meaning of heavy metal? Mention the names of some of them. Answer: Heavy metals are generally defined as metals with relatively high densities, atomic weights, or atomic numbers. Drinking water contaminated with heavy metals namely; arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), and lead (Pb) is becoming a major health concern for public and health care professionals. 9- Mention the names of some chelating agents that exist in nature. What is the role of these materials in nature? Answer: Proteins, polysaccharides, and polynucleic acids are excellent polydentate ligands for many metal ions. Organic compounds such as the amino acids glutamic acid and histidine, organic diacids such as malate, and polypeptides such as phytochelatin are also typical chelators. The role of chelating agents is to transfer pollutants. 2|Page  10- Define the terms of pollution and pollutant. Answer: Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse changes. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the components of pollution, can be either foreign substances/energies or naturally occurring contaminants. 11- What materials are present in air pollutants? Mention with the names. Answer: Air pollutants include particulate matter (PM), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and ozone. 12- Mention the names of the main pollutants of water. Answer: Water pollutants span a wide spectrum, from chemical contaminants like heavy metals, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals to biological contaminants such as bacteria and viruses. 13- Mention the names of the main pollutants of the soil. Answer: Soil pollutants include heavy metals, pesticides, herbicides, and industrial chemicals. 14- Name the possible modes of transfer of pollutants in different environments and describe one of them. Answer: 1-Air to water transfer, 2- Water to soil transfer,3- Soil to air transfer,4-Water to living organisms transfer, 5- Soil to living organisms transfer,6-Living organisms to soil and water transfer,7-Air to living organisms’ transfer. 3|Page