This document contains a science examination for a Bachelor of Education program. It includes 20 multiple choice questions in Section A testing knowledge of environmental chemistry concepts like the water cycle, renewable energy sources, ozone depletion, acid rain, water quality parameters and soil science. Section B requires students to explain ways humans have manipulated soil, the differences between tropospheric and stratospheric ozone, and demonstrate the Chapman cycle. Section C asks students to answer one of three long form questions about acid rain and water properties, global warming and its impacts/solutions, or photochemical smog formation and efforts to reduce it along with impacts of increasing urbanization.

1. TEACHERS’ COLLEGES OF JAMAICA
BACHELOR OF EDUCATION
MAY 2017 EXAMINATIONS
SCIENCE
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY
[SC227SEB]
YEAR 4 DURATION: 2 HOURS
INSTRUCTIONS: Candidates are required to answer all questions in SECTION A and
SECTION B and ONE question from SECTION C in the answer
booklet provided.
DO NOT TURN THIS PAGE UNTIL YOU ARE TOLD TO DO SO.

2. SECTION A
Select the most suitable choice in response to the following items. Write your answers in the
provided answer booklet.
1. Most of the freshwater found in the hydrosphere is found in
(a) Lakes
(b) Rivers
(c) Groundwater
(d) Glaciers
2. Which of the following is a renewable source of energy?
(a) Coal
(b) Natural gas
(c) Oil
(d) Water
3. Absorption by ozone is strongest at which of the following wavelength?
(a) 180 nm
(b) 250 nm
(c) 340 nm
(d) 500 nm
4. Based on your knowledge of photochemical smog, which of the following would NOT be
a suitable solution for reducing smog events?
(a) Encouraging workers to start driving to work earlier in the morning
(b) Encouraging greater use of public transportation
(c) Encouraging workers to carpool
(d) Encouraging workers to work from home as much as is possible
5. Which of the following would be a likely consequence of decreasing ozone levels in the
stratosphere?
(a) An increase in cases of skin cancer.
(b) A decrease in levels of photochemical smog observed in cities.
(c) A decrease in the rate of global warming.
(d) An increase in the production of plankton in the oceans.
6. The hole in the ozone layer is most noticeable over
(a) The Artic circle
(b) Antartica
(c) Africa
(d) India

3. 7. The stratosphere is located ____________ above the surface of the Earth.
(a) 10 km
(b) 50 km
(c) 80 km
(d) 500 km
8. What is the pH of a water body with H3O+
concentration of 1.82 x 10-7
M?
(a) 6.74
(b) 12.18
(c) 8.27
(d) 7.73
9. Water displays some very unique properties; most of these properties can be attributed to
(a) its very high boiling point.
(b) its use as a universal solvent.
(c) its ability to form hydrogen bonds.
(d) it being a covalent compound.
10. Which of the following water quality parameters is decreased by the breakdown of
organic matter?
(a) Salinity
(b) Total Suspended Solids
(c) Acidity
(d) Dissolved Oxygen
11. What is the main contributor to the acidity of unpolluted rain water?
(a) SO2
(b) O3
(c) NO2
(d) CO2
12. Which of the following is an example of non-point source water pollution?
(a) Oil leaking from an ocean liner.
(b) Storm water run-off from farms in a rural community.
(c) Waste water effluent from a pipe at a factory.
(d) Sewage waste entering the sea from a hotel.
13. Which of the following minerals is responsible for the formation of hard water?
(a) Na+
(b) K+
(c) Ca2+
(d) NH4
+

4. 14. Weathering of soil involves the
(a) mechanical and chemical breakup of rocks.
(b) picking up of rock fragments.
(c) movement of rock fragments.
(d) formation of rocks by the action of weather.
15. Soil that appears dark brown or black usually indicates
(a) high concentration of organic matter.
(b) high moisture content.
(c) high concentration of iron oxides.
(d) that the soil is very young.
16. Sand, silt and clay in their relative proportions within a soil is referred to as the
_____________ of the soil.
(a) horizon
(b) profile
(c) texture
(d) structure
17. Which of the following statements is TRUE about soil erosion?
(a) Soil erosion results in the removal of the top layer of soil.
(b) Soil erosion is a useful process by which wind and water make the soil more
fertile.
(c) Soil erosion is a natural process that helps in preventing harmful pollutants from
penetrating the soil.
(d) Soil erosion is the process by which soil is formed.
18. The Kyoto Protocol is an international treaty aimed at
(a) reducing ozone depleting substances.
(b) reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
(c) increasing efforts to minimise climate change.
(d) reducing secondary pollutants.
19. Non-renewable energy sources are classified in this manner because
(a) they are very expensive to generate.
(b) the energy they generate is not very efficient.
(c) these energy sources create pollution that destroy the environment.
(d) they cannot be replenished once used up.

5. 20. Which of the following would be considered as an ozone depleting substance?
(a) Methane (CH4)
(b) Carbon dioxide (CO2)
(c) Trichlorofluoromethane (CCl3F)
(d) Tetrafluorethane (CF3CH2F)

6. SHORTWOOD TEACHERS’ COLLEGE K. BRODBER (890-1253)
SECTION B
Answer all questions in this section. Write your answers in the provided answer booklet.
1. (a) Explain THREE ways in which humans have manipulated soil resources for
their benefit. (6 marks)
(b) Identify any TWO soil pollutants and state the effect of each named pollutant.
(4 marks)
Total 10 marks
2. It is sometimes said ozone in the troposphere is bad while ozone in the stratosphere is
beneficial
(a) Identify TWO negative consequences of tropospheric ozone. (2 marks)
(b) Explain why stratospheric ozone is important to life on Earth. (3 marks)
(c) Use the equations in the Chapman cycle to demonstrate the natural formation
and depletion of ozone in the stratosphere. State what scientists discovered
when they measured the actual concentration of ozone compared to the
amount predicted by the Chapman cycle. (5 marks)
Total 10 marks

7. SHORTWOOD TEACHERS’ COLLEGE K. BRODBER (890-1253)
SECTION C
Answer any ONE question from this section. Write your answers in the provided answer
booklet.
1. (a) Acid rain is considered as a problem caused by industrialisation.
Explain what is meant by acid rain and state TWO chemical compounds
responsible for its formation. (4 marks)
(b) Identify THREE unique properties of water and explain how each property is
useful to living organisms. (9 marks)
(c) Complexation of metal ions in water bodies can pose a serious threat to
aquatic systems.
(i) What is meant by complexation? (1 mark)
(ii) State why the complexation of metals poses a problem for aquatic
systems. (2 marks)
(iii) A water body containing Fe3+
ions was polluted by the addition of
cyanide ions. At equilibrium, the concentration of [Fe(CN)6]3-
is
3.4 x10-3
M. The formation constant for [Fe(CN)6]3-
is 1.0 x 1031
.
Determine the concentration of the Fe3+
ions at equilibrium if the
cyanide concentration at equilibrium is 0.048 M. (4 marks)
Total 20 marks
2. Global warming is considered to be one of the greatest environmental problems facing
the world today.
(a) What is global warming? (1 mark)
(b) State TWO gases, other than CO2, that the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) consider to be main contributors to global warming
(2 marks)
(c) Many of the other contributors to global warming have a global warming
potential that is greater than that of CO2, however, CO2 is considered as the
chief contributor to global warming. Give TWO reasons to account for this
seeming anomaly. (2 marks)
(d) Sea-level rise is one of the expected consequences of global warming. Explain
how global warming leads to a rise in the sea-level and explain TWO impacts
of sea-level rise on humans. (6 marks)
(e) Suggest THREE solutions to tackle global warming and explain how each
suggestion will help dealing with the problem. (9 marks)
Total 20 marks

8. SHORTWOOD TEACHERS’ COLLEGE K. BRODBER (890-1253)
3. Photochemical smog is a common environmental problem seen in many major cities.
(a) Explain the formation of photochemical smog and write TWO equations to show
the production of ozone, one of the main components of photochemical smog.
(6 marks)
(b) Explain TWO ways in which some cities have tried to tackle the problem.
(4 marks)
(c) The United Nations has stated that urbanisation across the world is expected to
increase by more than 10 % in the next thirty years.
(i) What is urbanisation? (1 marks)
(ii) Identify THREE natural resources that are impacted by urbanisation and
explain how their consumption is affected. (9 marks)