Chemistry – Miscellaneous Topics – Old Year Questions

• In 2019, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was given to John B. Goodenough (USA), M. Stanley Whittingham (USA) and Akira Yoshino (Japan) for inventing lithium-ion batteries.
• In 2020, Emmanuelle Charpentier (Germany) and Jennifer A. Doudna (USA) were awarded the Nobel Prize for creating a way to edit genomes (CRISPR/Cas 9 genetic scissors).
• In 2021, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was jointly given to Benjamin List (Germany) and David W.C. MacMillan (Scotland, UK) for developing asymmetric organocatalysis.

• Crookes glass is one of the several types of glasses designed to diminish the transmission of ultraviolet rays.
• It is used to make sunglasses.
• Pyrex glass is a clear, low-thermal-expansion borosilicate glass used for laboratory glassware and kitchenware.
• Jena glass is a shock- and heat-resistant glass used in scientific and technological applications, especially in chemistry.
• Soda-lime glass is produced on a large scale and used for bottles, drinking glasses, and windows.

• When chlorine and bromine meet up with ozone in the air high above the Earth, they break apart the ozone molecules.
• One chlorine atom can take apart more than 100,000 ozone molecules before it goes away.
• This happens faster than ozone can be put back together again.

• Ozone is made of three oxygen atoms (O3).
• It can release one oxygen atom, which is a strong oxidizing agent that can kill bacteria, mould, yeast spores, viruses, and other potentially harmful organisms.
• Ozone is not radioactive, so both the statement and the reasoning are true, but the reason is not a good explanation for the statement.

• The photocell is used in the fire alarm and it works by sensing the amount of light.
• It is a type of resistor that changes its resistance when light hits it.
• The fire alarm device uses a beam of light that is sent to a mirror and then bounced back.
• If smoke gets in the way of the beam, it changes the light and then the alarm goes off.

• Carbon dioxide gas is used in a fire extinguisher to control small fires.
• Often uses in emergency situations.

• In a regular fire extinguisher, carbon dioxide is produced when sodium bicarbonate and weak sulfuric acid are mixed together.
• This chemical reaction creates sodium sulfate, water, and carbon dioxide (2NaHCO3+ H2SO4 → Na2SO4+ 2H2O + 2CO2) .

• Aluminium sulphate is used to prepare clothes.
• Also for reproof clothes.

• Allethrin is a pyrethroid-synthesized insecticide/pesticide.
• It is an active chemical to remove mosquitoes.

• Prallethrin is a type of insecticide.
• It comes in a 1.6% w/w liquid vaporizer form and is used to repel mosquitoes in homes.
• It is sold in India as ‘Good Knight Silver Power’ by Godrej and as ‘All Out’ by SC Johnson.

• Pyrethrum is a natural plant-based pesticide.
• It has a strong effect on bugs by attacking their nervous systems and driving away mosquitoes.

• Pyrethrins are natural chemicals from the Chrysanthemum cinerariifolium seed plant.
• That are very effective at killing insects by affecting their nervous systems.

• Lemongrass is a type of plant found in many parts of the world.
• It is used to make citronella oil, which is often found in insect repellents, soaps, candles, and aromatherapy products.
• It is very good at keeping mosquitoes away, and can even kill up to 95% of certain species of mosquito.

• Potassium cyanide and zinc phosphide, which are very dangerous.
• Used as a poison to kill mice.

• Potassium cyanide (KCN) and zinc phosphide which are highly toxic chemicals.
• Are used as a rodenticide .
• A poison to kill the mouse.

• Potassium cyanide and zinc phosphide, which are very poisonous.
• Are used to kill rodents such as mice.

• Aluminium Phosphide is a very dangerous chemical.
• It is an inexpensive and easy to get pesticide which is deadly due to the release of a poisonous gas.
• It is also used to keep grain safe and to kill rats.

• Herbicides, often called weedkillers, are used to get rid of plants that people don’t want.
• Sodium chlorate (NaClO3) is a chemical that helps with this process.

• The Anupam Verma Committee recommended that the Union Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare ban 18 pesticides, including carbofuran, methyl parathion, phorate and triazophos, which are used in agriculture.
• 12 of these were banned on 9 August 2018, with the remaining 6 being banned on 31 December 2020.

• 2,4-D is a chemical that is typically used on paddy fields to kill weeds.
• It is also known as 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and has the formula C8H6Cl2O3. 2,4-D

• 2,4-D is a very popular herbicide used to get rid of broadleaf weeds.
• It is used in many places around the world.
• It is a manufactured plant hormone and is used in labs for studying plants or in plant cell culture.

• Carbon-14 isotope 6 can be used to figure out how old wood and bones are, which is known as Radiocarbon Dating.
• Carbon-14 takes 5,730 + 40 years to decay.
• It’s created in the atmosphere from cosmic radiation and nitrogen in the air.

• Radio Carbon Dating is used to figure out the age of wood and bones, which is the amount of time that has passed since a plant or animal died.
• Carbon-14 has a half-life of 5,730 + 40 years.
• It is created in the upper atmosphere when cosmic radiation reacts with nitrogen in the air.

• Isotope 6 C14 is used to find out how old wood and bones are.
• This is called Radio Carbon Dating.
• It takes Carbon-14 5,730 + 40 years to decay.
• Carbon-14 is created in the air by secondary neutrons, which are caused by cosmic rays and nitrogen in the atmosphere.

• Radioactive dating is a way to figure out how old things like rocks and carbon are.
• It is the best way to know the exact age of rocks and other natural features.

• Uranium-lead dating is an old and very precise way to figure out the age of the earth, rocks and bones.
• Clair Cameron Patterson, an American geochemist who did a lot of work on this kind of dating, is well-known for working out a very accurate estimate of the age of the earth.

• The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 was the source of the idea for carbon credits.
• A carbon credit is a document or permit that allows the owner to release 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide into the air.
• Carbon credits and markets are part of the efforts to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases present in the environment.

• Crookes glass is a special type of glass that has cerium borate, ferric and chromic oxides in it.
• This glass is good at blocking out ultraviolet rays, which can be damaging to our eyes, which is why it is used in sunglasses.

• BRIT is a part of India’s Department of Atomic Energy that specializes in using radiation and isotopes for medical purposes, farming, research, and industry.

• Alchemists used to burn zinc in the air and gather the white fluffy substance that was left behind, which they referred to as “philosopher’s wool” in Latin (lana philosophica).
• This material is known as zinc oxide (ZnO) and has many uses such as in paints, ointments, sunscreens, rubber production and photocopiers.

• The smell of urine is caused by ammonia.
• Urine is mostly made up of water, but it also contains urea, sodium, ammonia, phosphate, creatinine, and other ions.

• In 2011, scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, N.Y. found the heaviest antimatter seen so far.
• This antimatter, called antihelium-4, consists of two antiprotons and two antineutrons.
• It is the opposite of an alpha particle (which is like a normal helium nucleus).
• This discovery was made on the 100th anniversary of alpha particles being found.
• It will help us learn more about how the universe developed and if stars and galaxies made of anti-matter exist.

• Scientists have suggested geo-engineering solutions to reduce global warming.
• One idea is to put tiny solid particles (sulphate aerosols) into the stratosphere.
• These particles are very good at reflecting sunlight, and models show that if 1% of sunlight is reflected, the temperature on earth will go down.
• Another way to cool the planet is to use a technique to thin out cirrus clouds.
• These clouds let sunlight in, but trap heat from the earth.
• If they’re thinned out, some of the heat can escape, cooling the planet.

• Cloud seeding is a process of putting dry ice or silver into clouds to help them produce rain.
• Silver iodide is sprayed into clouds from planes, and sometimes dry ice is used.
• The particles act as a magnet for water droplets which eventually become big enough to fall as rain.

• Cloud seeding is a process that is used to bring rain.
• An airplane releases particles such as dry ice or silver iodide into the clouds.
• This helps the water droplets in the clouds to become larger.
• Which will eventually fall to the ground as rain.

• Cloud seeding involves spraying either dry ice or silver particles into clouds to create rain.
• These particles, usually silver iodide, are spread from an airplane and act as a magnet for water droplets.
• When the droplets become big enough, they will fall as rain.

• The amount of rain is based on how much moisture is in the air.
• When it rains, snows, or drizzles, it adds more moisture to the atmosphere.

• The correctly matched lists are as follows :
  

  List-I (Substance)	List-II  (Use)
  Blue Vitriol	Fungicide
  Eosin	Red ink
  Silver iodide	Artificial rain
  Zinc phosphide	Rodenticide

• The correct match of List-I with List-II is as follows :
  

  Silver Iodide	Artificial rain
  Silver Chloride	Horn Silver
  Zinc Phosphide	Rat poison
  Zinc Sulphide	Philosopher’s wool

• The correct match of List-I with List-II is as follows :
  

  Kevlar	Synthetic fiber
  Taxol	Anticancer drug
  Zinc Phosphide	Rodenticide
  Nitrocellulose	Explosive

• Silver bromide is used in photography, but not in artificial photosynthesis.
• Other pairs have been correctly paired.

• Lightning rods are usually made of metal materials like copper or aluminum.
• Copper and its alloys are the most common metals used to protect buildings and homes.
• The molecule of haemoglobin in blood has iron atoms combined with a haem group, which helps to carry oxygen from the lungs or gills to the rest of the body.
• Lead-acid batteries are used in vehicles since they can provide high current in a short time.
• Silver Bromide is used in photography.

• Morphine is a type of medication used to reduce pain.
• It is the main chemical in opium.
• Sodium is kept in kerosene oil because it can easily react with air.
• Boric acid is a type of chemical used as an antiseptic, insecticide and flame retardant.
• German silver is a combination of copper, nickel and zinc, usually 60% copper, 20% nickel and 20% zinc.
• Nickel silver looks silver but does not actually contain silver unless it is coated.

• The correct matching of List-I and List-II is as follows –
  

  Skin Cancer	Ultraviolet Light
  Noise Pollution	Decibel
  Global Warming	Carbon dioxide
  Ozone Hole	Chlorofluorocarbon

• Titanium is becoming more and more popular in today’s society because it is lightweight, strong, and doesn’t corrode easily.
• This makes it ideal for use in the aerospace, construction, and sports industries, as well as for medical implants.
• People have even started to call titanium the ‘metal of the future’.

• Silver possesses the highest electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity and reflectivity of any metal.
• The correctly matched pairs are as follows :

• Vermillion is a bright red or scarlet color that was originally made from a powdered mineral called cinnabar.
• The scientific name for this pigment is mercuric sulphide and it has the chemical formula HgS.
• This color does not dissolve easily in water

• Even though it’s called dry-cleaning, it’s not completely dry.
• Different liquids are used in the process.
• In the past, people found that things like camphene, benzene, alcohol, kerosene and gasoline could be used for this.
• So, petrol, benzene and alcohol are all used in dry-cleaning.

• Eosin is a type of dye that is usually found in red inks.
• It is usually diluted in a solution before being used.

• The Red color comes from Sodium Chromate.
• Its chemical makeup is Na2CrO4.

• The correctly matched pairs are as follows :
  

  Acetone	Nail polish remover
  Carbon tetrachloride	Fire extinguisher
  Hydrogen peroxide	Dressing of wounds
  Liquid ammonia	Refrigerant

• Lead-acid cells use sulphuric acid instead of hydrochloric acid.
• The other pairs of materials are matched properly.

• The matchbox lights up because the phosphorus on the match head is very reactive when it comes into contact with the potassium chlorate.
• Phosphorus is a safe chemical that is used to make the part of the matchbox that strikes it.

• Safety matches are made with red phosphorus and phosphorus trisulfide.
• The head of the matchstick usually contains potassium chlorate, red lead, antimony sulphide and glue.
• The box it comes in has a striking surface made of red phosphorus, antimony sulphide, lead powder and glue.

• White phosphorus is a solid that looks like wax and is clear.
• When it gets hot, it turns directly into a gas, without becoming a liquid first.
• It also has a special quality which makes it give off a greenish-white light.

• Sumio Iijima is a scientist from Japan who is credited with creating carbon nanotubes.

• In 2005, India opened its first water desalination plant in the Lakshadweep islands.
• This plant, created by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), was able to produce 100,000 liters of water a day.
• Since then, Chennai has also had their own desalination plants.

• In 2005, India opened its first water desalination plant in Kavaratti, Lakshadweep.
• The plant, created by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), can produce 100,000 litres of water a day.
• Now, there are also desalination plants in Chennai.

• Alkali soil is land that has too much salt, including sodium carbonate and sodium chloride.
• This gives the top layer of the soil a hard, firm crust with tiny salt crystals.
• The salt affects plant growth, making leaves smaller and roots shallow, and also causes the stem bark to turn brown or black.
• Gypsum, which is calcium sulphate, can help by replacing the sodium and making the soil more fertile.

• Edaphic has to do with the soil.
• The features of edaphic can describe the dirt, like how it drains, its texture, and what chemicals it has, like how acidic it is.

• Cryogenics is the scientific field that deals with very cold temperatures.
• Nitrogen, Hydrogen, and Oxygen in liquid form are often used in this practice.
• Cryogenic fuels are also used in rockets, with liquid hydrogen used as fuel and liquid oxygen (LOX) as an oxidizer.

• Mustard gas is a chemical substance that was used as a weapon during WW-I.
• It has the scientific name ‘Dichlorodiethyl Sulphide’ and is a very harmful gas that can cause skin sores.

• Mustard gas, also known as sulfur mustard, was used as a chemical weapon by the German army in World War I.
• It was used to attack British and Canadian soldiers near Ypres, Belgium in 1915.

• Mustard gas, also referred to as sulfur mustard, was first used as a weapon in World War I by the German army against British and Canadian soldiers in Ypres, Belgium in 1915.

• Mustard gas is a poisonous chemical that is liquid at regular temperatures.
• It is used as a weapon and can harm the skin, eyes, and lungs.
• The effects of it usually become noticeable 1-6 hours after contact.

• Smoke screens are made up of small particles of titanium oxide.
• Titanium oxide is a substance found in nature.
• Smoke screens are used by the military to hide their activities.
• Zinc chloride is sometimes used to make smoke screens.

• Agent Orange was a type of herbicide used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.
• It contained a chemical called dioxin which made it very effective.
• Unfortunately, it was later discovered that Agent Orange caused a lot of health problems such as tumours, birth defects, rashes and cancer.

• Agent Orange was a type of herbicide and defoliant used by the U.S. military in Vietnam from 1962 to 1971.
• It had a chemical in it called dioxin that made it very effective, but it was later found out that it caused health issues like tumours, birth defects, rashes, and cancer.

• Nuclear fusion is when several atoms join together to form a larger atom that has less mass than the total of the original atoms.
• Nuclear fission is the opposite, where large atoms are split into smaller parts and energy is released.
• Statement (b) is incorrect, while the other statements are correct.

• A dry cell is a type of battery commonly used in everyday items such as torches and calculators.
• Unlike wet cells, dry cells do not have liquid in them, so they can be used in any orientation without spilling.
• Examples of dry cells include zinc-carbon batteries, which are sometimes known as “dry Leclanche cells”, and use ammonium chloride or zinc chloride as an electrolyte.

• A dry cell is a type of electrochemical cell used in many devices like a calculator, flashlight, etc.
• It doesn’t need to be in a certain position and doesn’t spill like a wet cell.
• A popular type of dry cell is the zinc-carbon battery, also known as the dry Leclanche cell.
• The electrolyte inside is usually ammonium chloride, but sometimes it’s replaced with zinc chloride for more power.

• A dry cell, often seen as a battery, can be used in many electrical devices such as a torch or calculator.
• Unlike wet cells, dry cells do not need to be kept upright as they contain no liquid.
• The most common type is the zinc-carbon battery, also known as the dry Leclanche cell.
• This battery uses an electrolyte made of either ammonium chloride or zinc chloride for its high energy voltage.

• The dry cell is made up of dry components, like a zinc container filled with manganese dioxide, sal ammoniac and carbon.
• This cell cannot be recharged, because the chemical reaction that takes place inside it is irreversible.

• Converting chemical energy into electrical energy is best illustrated by primary cells or batteries, such as the dry cell.

• The car battery uses sulphuric acid (H2SO4).
• It is a very strong acid.

• The car battery uses a type of acid called sulphuric acid, which is a strong acid.

• The car battery runs on sulphuric acid, which is a very powerful acid.

• The car battery uses a strong acid called sulphuric acid (H2SO4) as its electrolyte.

• Nickel and Cadmium are used mainly as the parts of batteries that can be recharged in items such as phones, flashlights, and electric shavers.
• The cathode is made of nickel hydroxide and the anode is made of cadmium.
• Potassium hydroxide is usually used as the electrolyte.

• The Magnetron tube is a powerful vacuum tube that produces microwaves.
• It works by having electrons move between the cathode and anode when electric and magnetic fields are applied.
• They are mostly used in microwaves ovens now.

• The correct match of list-I with list-II is given below :
  

  Freon	Anti-knocking agent
  Tetraethyl lead	Anti-knocking agent
  Benzene hexachloride	Insecticide
  Carbon tetrachloride	Fire extinguisher

• The correct matching is as follows :
  

  Aspartame	Artificial Sweetener
  Freon	Refrigerant
  Neoprene	Synthetic Rubber
  Benadryl	Anti-histamine

• Lead is a type of contamination that can be found in makeup products such as lipsticks, eyeshadows, blushes, compact powders, shampoos, and body lotions.
• Brominated vegetable oil is an ingredient used in some drinks to keep them from separating.
• This is not allowed in Europe and Japan.
• Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is an amino acid that is said to make food taste better.
• Some people think that it can stimulate nerve cells.
• It is often used in Chinese fast food.

• The correct matching is as follows :

• The correctly matched Pairs are :
  

  Sulphur dioxide	Acid rain
  Fluoride pollution	Teeth
  Methyl isocyanate	Bhopal gas tragedy
  Ozone depletion	Skin cancer

• Thus it is clear that option (d) is correctly matched.

• Phenyl is a good germ-killer.
• It comes from phenol, which also has germ-killing abilities.
• To make phenyl, you mix light creosote oil, water and soap.
• Creosote oil has carbolic acid, creosol and other substances related to phenol that give it its germ-killing power.

• The correctly matched lists are as follows :
  

  Scientists	Inventions
  Rutherford	Atom Bomb
  Alfred Nobel	Dynamite
  Cartwright	Powerloom
  Graham Bell	Telephone

• The correctly matched lists are as follows :
  

  Technology Day	11 May (Pokhran test 1998)
  Photography Day	19 August
  National Sports Day	29 August (Major Dhyan Chand Jayanti)
  Nagasaki day	9 August (Nagasaki – Japan atom bomb)

• The year 2011 was declared the International Year of Forests and Chemistry by the United Nations.

2021

• • International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development
  • International Year for the Elimination of Child Labour
  •  International Year of Fruits and Vegetables
  •  International Year of Peace and Trust

2022 

• •  International Year of Artisanal Fisheries and Aquaculture
  •  International Year of Glass
  • International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development
  •  International Year of Basic Sciences for Sustainable Development

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is about reducing the amount of greenhouse gases that are released into the atmosphere.
• Carbon dioxide is one of the main gases that contribute to global warming.
• On April 22, 2016, 175 countries and organisations, including India, signed the Paris Agreement, which is a historic agreement to help reduce carbon emissions.
• All of the participating countries agreed that the average temperature of the 21st century should not be higher than 2 degrees Celsius compared to the temperature before the industrial era.

• The Alma-Ata Declaration was an important agreement made in 1978 in Almaty, Kazakhstan that focused on primary healthcare.
• The Hague Convention of 1980 was an international agreement that dealt with the return of child abductors to their country of origin.
• The Talanoa Dialogue is a process to help countries reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.
• The Under 2 Coalition is a group of governments that are committed to fighting climate change and reducing emissions in accordance with the Paris Agreement.
• Therefore, only options 1 and 3 are the correct matches.

• Since 1976, the Brazilian Government has required ethanol to be mixed with gasoline and since 2007, the legal mix is usually 25% ethanol and 75% gasoline.

• Two gaseous pollutants of air, hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen sulphide, are inorganic.
• Other inorganic pollutants include carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen dioxide.

• Hydrogen sulphide (H2 S) is a gas that smells like bad eggs, and is found in decaying plants and animals, sewage, landfills, and geothermal fields.
• It is also made by certain industries, like oil and gas extraction, petrochemicals, coke oven plants, and Kraft paper mills.

• The relative contribution of main greenhouse gases towards global warming is as follows :
  

  Water vapor	About 60%
  Carbon dioxide (CO2)	About 26%
  Methane (CH4)	About 4-9%
  Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and others	About 0.1-0.4%
  Nitrous oxide (N2O)	About 1.5%

• Thus, it is clear that option (d) is correct.

• Thermal pollution is when the water quality is harmed by something that changes the temperature of the water.
• Power plants often use water as a coolant, which can raise its temperature when it is returned to its natural environment.
• This sudden temperature change decreases the amount of oxygen in the water and changes the ecosystem.

• Green movers are trees planted close to loud areas to help reduce the noise.
• By planting 4-5 rows around populated areas, like along roads, factories, and near highways, the trees act as a barrier and block the noise from reaching people.
• This technique helps to reduce noise pollution.

• Magnetite is a form of iron with two positive charges and one negative charge.
• Scientists found magnetite particles in the brain over 25 years ago.
• These particles are similar to particles that come from burning things and are found in air particles in cities.
• Magnetite can have a negative effect on the brain because it can create harmful particles that can lead to Alzheimer’s.
• It can be found in places like work and in the air from vehicle exhaust or power plants.
• Low-energy electromagnetic fields from phones can also create magnetite particles.
• Hence, option (d) is the correct answer.
• Note: UPSC has given answer (b) for this question in the social answer key.

• When hydrocarbon fuels like petrol and diesel are burned, they react with oxygen and create water and carbon dioxide.
• If there isn’t enough oxygen, the burning process is incomplete and produces carbon monoxide (a poisonous gas) and carbon (as soot) instead of carbon dioxide.

• In large cities, the smoke coming from cars and factories has a lot of different pollutants like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide, lead, and ozone.
• Because these pollutants are everywhere, the commission chose not to take this into account when assessing the situation.

• Particulate matter, or particle pollution, is made up of tiny particles and droplets that get into the air.
• When breathed in, these particles can harm the heart and lungs and lead to serious health issues.

• R.S.P.M. stands for Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter, which is a type of Total Suspended Particulate Matter (T.S.P.M.).
• It is made up of particles small enough to be breathed in by humans, with a diameter of less than 2.5

• The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) is running a project called the National Air Quality Monitoring Programme (NAMP) all over the country.
• This network includes 804 stations in 344 cities.
• The purpose of N.A.M.P. is to learn about the air quality in different areas, find out if the air quality standards are being met, and work out methods to improve air quality.
• As part of NAMP, four pollutants are monitored: Sulphur Dioxide, Oxides of Nitrogen, Respirable Suspended Particulate Matter, and Fine Particulate Matter.
• Weather-related data such as wind speed, wind direction, humidity, and temperature is also collected.

• Smog is a very bad form of air pollution.
• The word ‘smog’ is made up of the words smoke and fog.
• You can see it, and it is made from nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, ozone, smoke and other small particles.
• Smog comes from burning coal, car exhausts, factories, fires, and chemical reactions between these things.

• Eutrophication is when a lake or body of water has too many nutrients in it, usually because of things like fertilizers and sewage runoff from the land.
• This can lead to too much algae growth and a decrease in the oxygen in the water.

• Eutrophication of water happens naturally, but people have made it worse.
• This is because too many nutrients, especially phosphorus, nitrogen, and silicate, have been released into the water.

• Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is a way to measure pollution levels in water.
• When organic and inorganic waste breaks down in the water, it uses up the oxygen in the water.
• This reduces the amount of oxygen in the water and increases the demand for oxygen.
• High BOD levels mean there is a lot of pollution, and this will lead to low levels of dissolved oxygen.

• The quality of water found in sources like rivers, lakes, and seas can be changed by pollutants from sewage and industrial runoff.
• These pollutants are known as effluents and can have a negative impact on the physical and chemical properties of the water.

• Thermal processes such as incineration, plasma pyrolysis, and gasification use high temperatures to break down waste.
• Plasma gasification systems can dispose of organic waste and reduce inorganic materials like glass and metals.
• Plasma pyrolysis produces compounds like methane, carbon dioxide, and water molecules, which have both energy and commercial value.
• NITI Aayog’s Action Agenda (2017-2020) has looked at the benefits of thermal pyrolysis and plasma gasification as waste-to-energy technologies.

• Pesticides, fillings for teeth, certain kinds of light bulbs, and power plants that use coal all put mercury into the environment.