Question

Environmental chemistry mainly deals with the study of

• A. unwanted substances and their effects
• B. flora and fauna
• C. biodiversity
• D. forest resources

Hint:

• Environmental chemistry focuses on the chemical species, reactions, transport, and effects of substances in the environment.
• A major part of this involves studying pollutants (often termed unwanted or harmful substances) and their environmental and health consequences.
• It also includes the study of natural chemical processes in the environment.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Environmental chemistry is the branch of chemistry concerned with the chemical processes occurring in the environment (air, water, soil). A significant focus of this field is on:

• Chemical Pollutants (Unwanted Substances): Identifying the sources, reactions, transport, and fate of chemical pollutants or contaminants in the environment. These can be natural or anthropogenic (man-made).
• Effects of these Substances: Understanding the impact of these chemical species on human health, ecosystems, and the environment as a whole. This includes studying toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation.
• Natural Chemical Cycles: Studying natural biogeochemical cycles (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, sulfur cycles) and how human activities perturb them.
• Remediation and Control: Developing chemical methods for pollution prevention, control, and remediation.

Option (a) "unwanted substances and their effects" accurately captures a primary focus of environmental chemistry, particularly concerning pollution. Options (b) "flora and fauna" (plants and animals) and (c) "biodiversity" are primarily the domain of biology and ecology, although environmental chemistry provides crucial understanding of how chemical factors affect them. Option (d) "forest resources" is related to forestry and resource management, again influenced by environmental chemistry but not its main study area. While environmental chemistry has broader aspects including natural processes, the study of pollutants (unwanted substances) and their impacts is a central theme. \[ \boxed{\text{unwanted substances and their effects}} \]