Environmental Chemistry Unit Test
Section A: Multiple Choice (Each multiple choice question is worth 1 mark)
1. Battery acid has a pH reading of 2.0 and is considered a…
A.
strong base
B.
strong acid
C.
weak base
D.
weak acid
2. The process of digestion breaks down the chemical nutrients present in food. Chemical
nutrients which are organic compounds contain …
A. hydrogen
B. oxygen
C. carbon
D. nitrogen
3. When water moves through the walls of the plant's roots from an area where there are more
water molecules to an area where there are fewer water molecules is a process called …
A. osmosis
B. diffusion
C. dilution
D. active transfer
4. Nitrogen in the air is released in a form that can chemically combine to make other usable
compounds. This process is usually accomplished by bacteria and nitrogen is referred to as …
A.
uptake
B.
decomposition
C.
fixation
D.
conversion
5. Nutrients that help with the growth and repair of body tissues are:
A. Nucleic acids
B. Carbohydrates
C. Lipids
D. Proteins
6. Because they are important and needed in relatively large amounts, certain elements found in
the environment are called ‘macronutrients’. Which of the following is NOT a macronutrient?
A. Mercury
B. Nitrogen
C. Calcium
D. Phosphorus
7. Active transport moves nutrients in an opposite direction to diffusion. To move nutrients from
areas of low concentration to areas of high concentration requires …
A. special membranes
B. equal concentrations
C. energy
D. suction
8. While sampling the water quality of the Milk River in southern Alberta, Environmental scientists
found 0.8mL of nitrates were dissolved within a 100mL water sample. What is the concentration of
nitrates coloring in parts per million (ppm)?
A. 8 ppm
B. 800 ppm
C. 800 ppm
D. 0.8 ppm
Use the information below to answer question # 9:
A graph illustrating the number and type of invertebrates
that trout feed on
9. While at Kananaskis Lodge, the local park warden tells you that a large amount of sediment
entered the stream during the construction of the Kananaskis resort. Since that time, the trout
population in the stream has decreased. You infer that this most likely happened because the …
A. Worms were covered by silt
B. Trout were unable to smell the midge larvae
C. Trout could not see the dragonflies flying above the water
D. Temperature of the water decreased because of the heat absorption
10. Which of the following substances is inorganic?
A. Table salt
B. Peanut oil
C. Orange juice
D. Maple sugar
Use the information below to answer questions 11-13
Many organisms are sensitive to
changes in the pH of their
environments. The graph below
shows the concentrations of
organisms of four different species
as a function of the pH of a lake.
11. Which species has the fewest number of organisms present in lake water that has a neutral pH?
A. Species A
B. Species B
C. Species C
D. Species D
12. If acid rain falls into the lake and changes the pH of the water from 6.3 to 5.0, then the species that
will increase in concentration is …
A. species A
B. species B
C. species C
D. species D
13. The three numbers on a bag of fertilizer refer to the percentage of chemicals used as plant nutrient
supplements. A bag of fertilizer containing 5 - 10 - 5 means there are equal amounts of two
chemicals and twice as much of this chemical …
A. phosphate
B. nitrogen
C. carbon
D. potassium
Use the following data table to answer the next question.
The water at a number of sites along Rust River was tested for acidity. Some of the testing was done
using litmus paper. Other testing was done using a pH probe.
Red Litmus
Blue Litmus
pH Reading
Site
Turns blue
No change
A
No change
No change
B
6.8
C
No change
Turns red
D
8.1
E
14. According to the results of the testing, how many sites were acidic, basic, or neutral?
Acidic
Basic
Neutral
A.
2
2
1
B.
1
3
1
C.
2
1
2
D.
3
1
1
15. Sodium hydroxide is used in household cleaners and also as a reagent in film processing. The
properties that identify it as a base are, it …
A. feels slippery, and has a pH of more than 7
B. feels rough with texture, and has a pH of 7
C. is insoluble, and has a pH of 7
D. is soluble in water and has a pH of less than 7
16. Cars have a special device in its exhaust pipe to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This device is
called:
A. washer
B. scrubber
C. catalytic converter
D. carbonic converter
17. Many scientists have concluded that the thinning of the upper ozone layer has been caused
by our use of…
A. CFCs
B. UFOs
C. DDT
D. PCBs
Use the following information to answer the next question.
18. Students are studying a creek that has received frequent runoff from a fertilized field. The students
will most likely notice an increase in…
A. pH
B. dissolved oxygen
C. fish species
D. algae growth
19. Permeable ground collects naturally filtered drinking water in underground cavities called …
A. aquifers
B. aquaseas
C. water caves
D. water bowls
Use the following information to answer the next question.
Many dead fish were found at location X
20. The source of chemicals most likely responsible for the fish kill would be
A. runoff from the ranch
B. emissions from the factory
C. heavy metals from the mine
D. products from the town
21. Water that soaks through the soil and carries dissolved substances into the soil is called
A. acid rain
B. leachate
C. contaminant
D. filtrate
22. The increase in the amount of harmful substances in each trophic level of the food chain is called
A. Biomagnification
B. Biodegradation
C. Concentration
D. Intensification
23. A fungicide is a chemical that controls
A. pests
B. insects
C. weeds
D. moulds
Use the following information to answer the next question.
24. Which of the following brands of fertilizer will result in the strongest and healthiest roots?
A. W
B. X
C. Y
D. Z
25. There is wide-spread concern about the burning (combustion) of fossil fuels because of the release
of…
A. carbon dioxide
B. carbon monoxide
C. nitrogen oxides
D. oxygen
27. Lime (calcium hydroxide) is sometimes added to acidic lakes to…
A. lower the pH
B. neutralize the water
C. lessen water contamination
D. increase the dissolved oxygen content
28. Plant nutrients that are considered major water pollutants are…
A. nitrogen and carbon
B. phosphorus and ozone
C. phosphorus and nitrogen
D. nitrogen oxides and ozone
29. An LD50 of 1500 mg/kg means that 50% of
A. laboratory animals are killed by that dose of chemical
B. laboratory animals are killed by 50% of the chemical
C. the chemical kills all of the animal populations
D. the chemical kills 50% the animal populations
30. The inorganic substances that are an essential part of a healthy diet are:
A. vitamins
B. minerals
C. carbohydrates
D. proteins
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PLEASE COMPLETE THE NUMERICAL RESPONSE QUESTIONS ON YOUR
ANSWER SHEET