The following is not a water pollutant?

Assessment: JAMB UTME - Chemistry - 2025 Subject: Chemistry

Question 1 Report

The following is not a water pollutant?

Answer Details

A water pollutant is any substance or condition that degrades the quality of a water body and harms aquatic life or makes the water unsuitable for its intended use.

Oxygen gas is not a water pollutant. In fact, dissolved oxygen is essential for aquatic life. Fish and other aquatic organisms depend on dissolved oxygen for respiration. A water body with adequate dissolved oxygen levels is considered healthy.

The other options are all recognised water pollutants:

  • Warm water effluent (thermal pollution): Discharge of heated water from power plants or factories raises the temperature of natural water bodies, which reduces the solubility of dissolved oxygen and disrupts aquatic ecosystems.
  • Inorganic fertilizers: Nitrates and phosphates from agricultural runoff cause eutrophication, leading to excessive algal growth, oxygen depletion, and death of aquatic organisms.
  • Biodegradable waste: Organic matter such as sewage increases the biological oxygen demand (BOD) of the water, depleting dissolved oxygen as microorganisms decompose the waste.

Since oxygen gas is a natural and beneficial component of water, it is not classified as a pollutant.

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