question_answer 1)

  A factory was started near a village. Suddenly villagers started feeling the presence of irritating vapour in the village and cases of headache, chest pain, cough, dryness of throat and breathing problems increased. Villagers blamed emissions from the chimney of the factory for such problems. Explain what could have happened? Give chemical reactions for the support of your explanation.

Answer:

  \[S{{O}_{2}}\] is the most serious gaseous pollutants. On combustion of coal in the factories, \[S{{O}_{2}}\] is released as coal contains 0.1 to 6% of sulphur. \[S+{{O}_{2}}\to S{{O}_{2}}\] \[S{{O}_{2}}\]is also produced when sulphide ores are roasted in air during extraction of metals. \[2Fe{{S}_{2}}+5\,{{O}_{2}}\to 5FeO+4S{{O}_{2}}\] \[2C{{u}_{2}}S+3{{O}_{2}}\to 6Cu+3S{{O}_{2}}\] \[S{{O}_{2}}\]is highly irritating gas to respiratory tract of human beings. Even at low concentration (about 5 ppm) it causes drying of mouth, throat and eye irritation. It brings breathlessness and affects voice box. Higher concentration may cause lung disease and even lung cancer.