Deck 14: Water

Question 1

Contaminated water supplies and lack of adequate sanitation kill approximately ________ people worldwide each year.

A) 3,600,000
B) 100,000
C) 1,000,000
D) 500,000

Answer 1

3,600,000

Question 2

Rivers constitute ________ percent of the surface water and other freshwater.

A) 3.5
B) 0.49
C) 20
D) 40

Answer 2

0.49

Question 3

All of the following statements are true of hard water EXCEPT

A) it contains calcium salts.
B) it contains iron salts.
C) it contains only Na⁺ and K⁺ ions.
D) it forms an insoluble scum with soap.

Answer 3

it contains only Na⁺ and K⁺ ions.

Question 4

Water's unique properties, including its high heat capacity, high density, and a solid phase that is less dense than its liquid phase, can best be attributed to

A) its formula, H₂O.
B) the covalent oxygen-hydrogen bonds in the molecule.
C) the shape of the molecule.
D) the polarity of the molecule and hydrogen bonding between the molecules.

Question 5

Rainwater is

A) slightly acidic because it reacts with dissolved CO₂ gas.
B) slightly basic because it reacts with dissolved CO₂ gas.
C) slightly acidic because it reacts with dissolved radon gas.
D) slightly basic because it reacts with dissolved radon gas.

Question 6

Heat of vaporization is the amount of heat required to

A) evaporate a liquid.
B) condense a vapor.
C) melt a solid.
D) evaporate a solid.

Question 7

Lakes and oceans affect climate by moderating variations in air temperature. The property of water moderating temperature variations is its

A) density.
B) surface tension.
C) boiling point.
D) high heat of vaporization.

Question 8

Heat capacity is a measure of the heat required to

A) expand the volume of a substance.
B) evaporate a substance.
C) freeze a substance.
D) raise the temperature of 1 gram of a substance by 1°C.

Question 9

The majority of fresh water is found in

A) lakes.
B) groundwater.
C) polar ice caps.
D) rivers and streams.

Question 10

What percentage of water on the earth is fresh water?

A) 2%
B) 25%
C) 45%
D) 98%

Question 11

The saltiness of the oceans is

A) decreasing slowly.
B) increasing slowly.
C) increasing rapidly.
D) constant.

Question 12

Which of the following is NOT a property of water?

A) It has a higher density in the liquid state than in the solid state.
B) It has a lower density than most liquids do.
C) It dissolves most ionic substances.
D) It has a high specific heat.

Question 13

Soft water contains relatively large concentrations of

A) iron ions.
B) magnesium ions.
C) potassium ions.
D) calcium ions.

Question 14

A characteristic of a lake dying from acidification is that the only surviving fish are

A) old.
B) young.
C) female.
D) male.

Question 15

The water cycle acts to purify water by

A) evaporation and condensation.
B) crystallization (freeze-thaw cycle).
C) filtration.
D) All of these act to purify water.

Question 16

What percentage of water on the earth is seawater, and hence, unfit for drinking?

A) 2%
B) 25%
C) 45%
D) 98%

Question 17

Approximately what fraction of the earth's surface is covered with water?

A) 50%
B) 95%
C) 75%
D) 15%

Question 18

Water commonly exists in large amounts in which of the following physical states?

A) gaseous
B) liquid
C) solid
D) Water exists in large amounts in all of the above.

Question 19

The dramatic temperature changes on the moon between day and night are not seen on the earth because of what property of water?

A) excellent solvent
B) less dense as a solid
C) high heat capacity
D) All of the above contribute.

Question 20

________ million people on earth do not have access to adequate quantities of fresh water.

A) 100
B) 300
C) 875
D) 475

Question 21

Super bugs are

A) insects that can fly for a long time.
B) organisms that are resistant to antibiotics.
C) insects that are resistant to bug killer.
D) insects that can fly to high altitudes.

Question 22

Anaerobic degradation of organic material in water systems occurs in the absence of

A) dissolved oxygen.
B) dissolved nitrogen.
C) nutrients.
D) sunlight.

Question 23

Dissolved oxygen is added to streams and rivers by

A) aerobic bacteria.
B) waterfalls and rapids.
C) decaying algae.
D) fertilizer runoff.

Question 24

Under aerobic conditions, the carbon in decaying vegetation in a lake ends up primarily as

A) methane, CH₄.
B) cyanide, CN^-.
C) carbon monoxide, CO.
D) carbon dioxide, CO₂.

Question 25

The metal ion found in clays and other minerals that appears to be deadly to young fish is ________.

A) potassium
B) strontium
C) aluminum
D) sodium

Question 26

Lakes and streams with limestone rock bottoms are less susceptible to

A) high levels of BOD.
B) anaerobic organisms.
C) acidification.
D) low DO.

Question 27

Lakes and streams with granite rock bottoms are more susceptible to

A) high levels of BOD.
B) anaerobic organisms.
C) acidification.
D) low DO.

Question 28

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is a measure of the amount of

A) dissolved oxygen in a water sample.
B) dissolved biochemical oxygen in a water sample.
C) oxygen required to degrade organic material in the water.
D) oxygen required by aquatic life in a water sample.

Question 29

Algae growth and death in a lake can increase the BOD of the water. This process is called

A) oxidation.
B) fertilization.
C) eutrophication.
D) regeneration.

Question 30

Which company's industrial waste water would have a relatively high BOD?

A) Tasty Tomato Canning Company
B) Shameless Stripper Coal Mine
C) Bullworks Ammonia Company
D) Spotless Steel Works, Inc.

Question 31

Aerobic decomposition of organic matter requires

A) oxygen.
B) nitrogen.
C) magnesium.
D) water.

Question 32

As the amount of organic material in a water system increases, the BOD

A) decreases.
B) remains constant.
C) increases.
D) cannot be predicted.

Question 33

Which of these common human activities contribute to BOD?

A) dumping detergents in a lake or pond
B) swimming in a lake or pond
C) paddling a boat across a lake or pond
D) fishing in a lake or pond

Question 34

Acid rain contains

A) potassium carbonate.
B) sulfuric acid.
C) boric acid.
D) potassium chloride.

Question 35

Algae bloom can be stimulated on a lake or pond by

A) runoff of fertilizers from crops and lawns.
B) fishing.
C) acid rain.
D) basic rain.

Question 36

Which part of the water supply is most isolated from the purifying capacity of the water cycle?

A) ice caps
B) groundwater
C) surface water
D) oceans

Question 37

Which substance is likely to be produced when the dissolved oxygen in a lake is depleted?

A) methane
B) hydrogen
C) nitrite
D) bicarbonate

Question 38

Pathogenic is

A) disease-causing.
B) an antibiotic.
C) a cure for a disease.
D) a virus.

Question 39

The most serious threat to human health from water supplies is

A) bacteria.
B) chlorinated hydrocarbons.
C) heavy metals.
D) nitrates.

Question 40

The effects of acid rain include all of the following EXCEPT

A) algal blooms in lakes.
B) clear and sparkling lake water.
C) corrosion of the finish on automobiles.
D) release of toxic ions from rocks and soil.

Question 41

The EPA drinking water standard for toluene is 3 mg/L. What is this concentration in ppm?

A) 0.003
B) 0.3
C) 3
D) 3000

Question 42

Ppm and ppb are

A) toxic chemicals.
B) chlorinated hydrocarbons.
C) wastewater treatment strategies.
D) concentration units.

Question 43

A lake that has a foul odor has most likely undergone

A) aerobic decay.
B) anaerobic decay.
C) eutrophication.
D) parthenogenesis.

Question 44

Which of the following uses the greatest amount of water in the United States?

A) agricultural irrigation
B) cooling for electric power plants
C) industrial manufacturing
D) public water supplies

Question 45

Acidic water is neutralized when ________ is present.

A) sulfur dioxide
B) limestone
C) hydrogen iodide
D) methane

Question 46

All of the following atoms are found in the framework of naturally occurring zeolites EXCEPT

A) aluminum.
B) neon.
C) oxygen.
D) silicon.

Question 47

A major source of groundwater contamination is leaking underground storage tanks. Most of these tanks once held

A) CFCs.
B) gasoline.
C) nitrates.
D) ozone.

Question 48

Along with fertilizers which increase BOD, which class of agricultural chemicals often contaminate water?

A) toxic metal
B) crude oil
C) pesticides
D) radioisotopes

Question 49

Which of the following is a characteristic of zeolites that enables them to clean up and conserve water?

A) They contain silver atoms.
B) They are catalysts and are easily removed.
C) They reduce the amount of water that can be remediated.
D) They have large pores that are greater than 100 nm in diameter.

Question 50

A volatile organic compound that is widely used as a dry-cleaning solvent and degreasing compound and is now found in trace amounts in groundwater is

A) methane.
B) benzene.
C) formic acid.
D) trichloroethylene.

Question 51

Which of the following human activities contribute significantly to increased water pollution?

A) oil spills
B) releasing industrial wastes
C) pouring household chemicals, outdated medicines, etc. down the drain
D) All of these contribute significantly to water pollution.

Question 52

A contaminant in well water in many areas is

A) nitrates.
B) butanol.
C) silver.
D) carbonates.

Question 53

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) make up one category of contaminants in groundwater. Which one of the following is NOT a VOC?

A) mica
B) chloroform
C) toluene
D) benzene

Question 54

About ________ of the world's fresh water supply is used in agriculture.

A) 10%
B) 45%
C) 85%
D) 70%

Question 55

Zeolites can be modified to remove heavy metal from drinking water. How is this accomplished?

A) The pore size in the zeolite is made smaller.
B) The pore size in the zeolite is increased.
C) Sodium and potassium ions are bound to the zeolite structure.
D) Calcium and magnesium cations are replaced with sodium and potassium cations.

Question 56

Many wells in the United States are contaminated with the gasoline additive,

A) lead.
B) methyl tert-butyl ether.
C) octane.
D) chlorofluorocarbons.

Question 57

Consumption of water with high levels of nitrate is particularly hazardous to

A) infants.
B) males.
C) females.
D) elderly.

Question 58

The EPA drinking water standard for toluene is 1 mg/L. What is this concentration in ppb?

A) 0.001
B) 0.1
C) 1
D) 1000

Question 59

At any given time, what proportion of the world's hospital beds are occupied by people with waterborne diseases?

A) 20%
B) 25%
C) 50%
D) 80%

Question 60

The EPA drinking water standard for arsenic is 0.050 mg/L. What is this concentration in ppb?

A) 0.050
B) 5.0
C) 50.
D) 5.0 × 10³

Question 61

The volume of water increases as it freezes.

Question 62

Fluorides are added to water to

A) kill viruses.
B) remove nitrites.
C) neutralize bases.
D) prevent tooth decay.

Question 63

The EPA drinking water standard for arsenic is 0.040 mg/L. What is this concentration in ppm?

A) 0.040
B) 4
C) 40
D) 4000

Question 64

Secondary treatment of wastewater is not effective for removal of

A) suspended matter.
B) dissolved organics.
C) nitrates and phosphates.
D) bacteria.

Question 65

In secondary treatment of sewage, which removes organic matter?

A) chlorine
B) ozone
C) aluminum sulfate and lime
D) aerobic bacteria

Question 66

Which of the following is considered to be a disadvantage of fluoridating drinking water?

A) The concentration of fluoride in drinking water is usually 0.7-1.0 ppm.
B) Some hydroxide ions in tooth enamel are replaced by fluoride ions.
C) High fluoride consumption in early childhood can cause mottling of the teeth.
D) Treatment with fluoride results in harder tooth enamel.

Question 67

One of the potential problems with chlorination of waste water is that it

A) provides no residual protection.
B) is ineffective against pathogenic bacteria.
C) produces low levels of chlorinated hydrocarbons.
D) is more expensive than other approaches.

Question 68

Secondary treatment of sewage involves

A) filtering and aeration.
B) settling and sludge removal.
C) chlorination.
D) Secondary sewage treatment involves all of the above.

Question 69

Which of the following statements about bottled drinking water is true?

A) Bottled water is safer than tap water.
B) Bottled water is healthier than tap water.
C) Bottled mineral water often contains more dissolved ions than tap water.
D) All bottled water comes from natural springs or artesian wells.

Question 70

Many communities are beginning to use sludge on farm fields. What is the biggest problem with using sludge on fields?

A) The sludge must be dried before it can be applied to the fields.
B) Wet sludge may irrigate the crops.
C) Sludge is often contaminated with toxic metals that could be taken up by plants.
D) Sludge is a source of nutrients and humus.

Question 71

One of the advantages of treating sewage effluent with ozone as opposed to chlorine is

A) O₃ is more effective in killing viruses.
B) O₃ is more effective in killing bacteria.
C) O₃ provides a residual protection against bacteria.
D) O₃ is less expensive.

Question 72

Advanced treatment of wastewater can include any of the following EXCEPT

A) charcoal filtration.
B) sand and gravel filtration.
C) phytoremediation.
D) reverse osmosis.

Question 73

Primary sewage treatment involves

A) aeration.
B) settling.
C) chemical treatment.
D) Primary sewage treatment involves all of the above.

Question 74

You can live for weeks without food, but only days without water.

Question 75

What percentage of public water supplies in the United States do NOT meet one or more of the EPA water standards?

A) 1 %
B) 25 %
C) 10 %
D) 70 %

Question 76

Municipal water supplies are generally treated either with chlorine or with ozone. Which of the following statements is true?

A) Chlorine is more expensive.
B) Ozone provides residual protection against microorganisms.
C) Ozone does not kill viruses.
D) Ozone is more expensive, but less of it is needed.

Question 77

Municipal water supplies are disinfected by treatment either with chlorine or with ozone. One advantage which chlorine has over ozone is that

A) chlorine treatment kills viruses and ozone does not.
B) chlorine treatment converts dissolved organic compounds into chlorinated hydrocarbons.
C) chlorine leaves a taste in the water.
D) chlorine continues to provide protection against microorganisms even after the water leaves the treatment plant.

Question 78

Bottled water is becoming an increasingly popular drink in the United States. Which of the following statements about bottled water is true?

A) All bottled water comes from natural springs and artesian wells.
B) The testing of bottled water is generally less rigorous than the testing of municipal water supplies.
C) Bottled water contains almost no dissolved ions.
D) Bottled water is less expensive than tap water.

Question 79

Aeration of drinking water

A) removes odors.
B) increases dissolved air.
C) improves flavor.
D) does all of the above.

Question 80

Charcoal filtration of wastewater is an excellent method for the removal of

A) dissolved ions.
B) organic molecules.
C) nitrates and phosphates.
D) sludge.