Question

The interior of a cow-dung pile kept for a few days is quite warm. This is mostly because

• A. Cellulose present in the dung is a good insulator .
• B. Bacterial metabolism inside the dung releases heat.
• C. Undigested material releases heat due to oxidation by air.
• D. Dung is dark and absorbs a lot of heat.

Answer 1

The correct option is B Bacterial metabolism inside the dung releases heat.

At the later stages of decomposition of cowdung, mesophilic micro-organisms decompose the dung, generating heat from exothermic( process which produces heat) processes; such heat generation is associated with the well known phenomenon of the elevated temperature of composting.