Question

Measurement of the rate of oxygen utilization by a unit volume of water over a period of time is to measures
A. Biochemical oxygen demand
B. Biosynthetic pathway
C. Biogas generation
D. Fermentation

Answer 1

Hint: The amount of oxygen required to remove the waste when the amount of pollution in a water sample is more in the presence of microorganisms. It is similar to chemical oxygen demand ( COD ) in function which measures the amount of organic compounds in water.

Complete answer:
Biochemical Oxygen Demand ( BOD ) or biological oxygen demand is the amount of oxygen that is required to remove the waste organic matter from the water. It is done in the presence of bacteria that only live in an oxygen-containing environment. If BOD is high, the oxygen present in the stream is also high. In aquatic life, the BOD will be less. If BOD is high in aquatic life the aquatic organisms become stressed, suffocate, and die. High Biochemical Oxygen Demand can be caused when the levels of organic pollution are high or when the levels of nitrate levels are more. Higher the BOD higher the polluted water.
-Biosynthetic pathway: formation of chemical compounds by living organisms or in a laboratory process. It is an enzyme-catalyzed process.
-Biogas generation: biogas production is through processing various types of organic waste. It is used as a fuel and also for heating purposes.
-Fermentation: it is a metabolic process. Extraction of energy from carbohydrates in the absence of oxygen.

Hence, the correct answer is Option A

Note: The more organic matter, the greater the biochemical oxygen demand, and lower the amount of dissolved oxygen is available for higher animals such as fishes. The BOD test shows the amount of pollution in a water sample.