Chemistry in the Environment
Practice Test
1.
What is the natural warming of Earth’s surface that occurs when certain gases in the atmosphere absorb heat?
a.
photosynthesis
b.
greenhouse effect
c.
vulcanism
d.
carbon cycle
2.
What is the source of power that drives the water cycle?
a.
tides
b.
the Sun
c.
gravity
d.
nuclear power plants
3.
When an increase in greenhouse gases leads to an increase in the temperature over all of Earth, a specific condition occurs. What is the common name for this condition?
a.
global warming
b.
photosynthesis
c.
carbon cycle
d.
ozone hole
4.
Seawater is desalinated commercially in some areas of the world by _____________.
a.
distillation
b.
precipitation
c.
adsorption
d.
reverse osmosis
5.
Which of following is the blanket of pollution that is formed when sunlight reacts with chemicals in the air?
a.
chlorofluorocarbons
b.
rain
c.
smog
d.
ozone
6.
Acid rain chemically reacts with calcium carbonate, the major component of limestone and marble, which are used to make buildings and statues. What are the chemical products formed when calcium carbonate reacts with nitric acid?
a.
calcium carbonate and nitric acid
b.
nitrous oxide and calcium hydroxide
c.
carbon dioxide, water, and calcium nitrate
d.
carbonic acid and calcium hydroxide
7.
Nitrogen is oxidized in the atmosphere and in the soil by nitrogen-fixing bacteria. What is the most oxidized form of nitrogen?
a.
ammonia
b.
nitrogen dioxide
c.
nitrogen monoxide
d.
nitrate
8.
What is the solid part of Earth’s crust called?
a.
troposphere
b.
lithosphere
c.
atmosphere
d.
hydrosphere
9.
What is the name given to a solid inorganic, compound found in nature?
a.
mineral
b.
vitamin
c.
precipitation
d.
solution
10.
What chemicals are used by plants to make carbohydrates during photosynthesis?
a.
carbon dioxide and calcium carbonate
b.
carbon dioxide and nitrogen
c.
carbon dioxide and water
d.
water and calcium carbonate
11.
__________ use the greatest percentage of freshwater in the United States.
a.
Residents
b.
Industries
c.
Governments
d.
Farms
12.
__________ is difficult to remove from sewage and wastewater and contributes to bacterial and algal overgrowth in freshwater.
a.
carbon
b.
nitrogen
c.
lead
d.
oxygen
13.
Although nitrogen gas cannot be used by plants, it can be converted into forms that plants can use. What process converts nitrogen gas into this more useful form?
a.
photosynthesis
b.
global warming
c.
nitrogen fixation
d.
precipitation
14.
Which of the following resulted in Earth's core becoming more dense than its crust?
a.
oxygenation
b.
rapid heating
c.
gravity
d.
high electronegativity
15.
Which gas is present in the highest concentration in the atmosphere?
a.
oxygen
b.
nitrogen
c.
argon
d.
carbon dioxide
16.
What term is used to describe a metal-containing mineral that can be processed for a reasonable profit?
a.
slag
b.
crust
c.
gangue
d.
ore
17.
What process is used to remove salt from seawater so that it can be used by humans?
a.
desalination
b.
aeration
c.
precipitation
d.
denaturation
18.
The photodissociation of diatomic oxygen in the atmosphere produces ___________.
a.
oxygen and electrons
b.
2O
c.
ozone
d.
O
19.
What is the most abundant element in Earth’s crust?
a.
carbon
b.
oxygen
c.
sodium
d.
nitrogen
20.
What are the two most common acid components of acid rain?
a.
nitric acid and carbonic acid
b.
nitric acid and phosphoric acid
c.
nitric acid and sulfuric acid
d.
sulfuric acid and carbonic acid
