Question

Identify the degradable pollutant from the following.

(a) Chemicals

(b) Metals

(c) Discarded vegetables

(d) Plastic

I got this question in a job interview.

This is a very interesting question from Environmental Pollution topic in portion Environmental Chemistry of Chemistry – Class 11

Answer 1

Right option is (c) Discarded vegetables

To explain I would say: Discarded vegetables are degradable pollutants. Since they are organic, they can be rapidly broken down by micro-organisms through natural processes. Chemicals, metals, and plastics are inorganic and they will slowly degrade, thereby, remaining in an unchanged form in the environment for many decades.