Match each water treatment chemical agent or industrial pollutant on the left with its cor… — JAMB UTME

Match each water treatment chemical agent or industrial pollutant on the left with its corresponding chemical function or environmental impact on the right.

Potash alum, $\text{KAl(SO}_4)_2 \cdot 12\text{H}_2\text{O}$ Acts as a coagulant to destabilize and precipitate suspended colloidal clay particles.
Chlorine gas, $\text{Cl}_2$ Functions as a chemical disinfectant to destroy pathogenic microorganisms.
Crude oil spillForms an insoluble surface layer that prevents atmospheric oxygen dissolution.
Lead(II) ions, $\text{Pb}^{2+}$ Acts as a non-biodegradable pollutant that bioaccumulates and damages the nervous system.

Answer

Potash alum pairs with colloidal coagulation; Chlorine gas pairs with micro-organism disinfection; Crude oil spill pairs with blocking atmospheric oxygen dissolution; Lead(II) ions pair with heavy metal bioaccumulation and neurological toxicity.

Potash alum acts as a coagulating agent to settle suspended clay particles; chlorine functions as a chemical disinfectant to kill pathogens; crude oil forms a floating slick that prevents atmospheric oxygen from dissolving into water; lead ions are heavy metal pollutants that bioaccumulate in organism tissues.

Step-by-Step Solution

Differentiate between physical purification agents and chemical sterilization agents used in water treatment.

Potash alum is added during coagulation to precipitate fine colloidal particles, while chlorine is added at the final stage to kill pathogens.

Coagulation removes turbidity whereas chlorination performs disinfection.

Analyze the mechanisms of industrial pollutants in aquatic environments.

Crude oil forms a thin physical barrier across water surfaces, reducing dissolved oxygen levels. Heavy metal ions such as

\text{Pb}^{2+}

persist in ecosystems and concentrate in biological organisms.

Physical barriers cause hypoxia, whereas non-biodegradable heavy metals cause cumulative physiological toxicity.

Key Concept

Chemical mechanisms of municipal water purification agents and environmental impacts of industrial effluents

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