Question

Question 5
The pH of water sample collected from a river was found to be acidic in the range of 3.5 – 4.5, on the banks of the river were several factories that were discharging effluents into the river. The effluents of which one of the following factories is the most likely the cause for lowering the pH of river water?

(a) Soap and detergent factory
(b) Lead battery manufacturing factory
(c) Plastic cup manufacturing factory
(d) Alcohol distillery

Answer 1

Option (b) is correct.
Salts of lead compounds are acidic in nature. Hence, when they flow into the river they decrease the pH of the water. If the pH of the river decreases, the acidic nature of the water increases.