Question

When oil and gas resources are burnt they kill many forests and lakes by
A. Deforestation
B. Water pollution
C. Acid rain
D. Forest fire

Answer 1

Hint: Burning of oil and gas produces toxic gases that lift in the atmosphere. These gases mix with water vapor present in the atmosphere and cause harm to humans and the environment through precipitation.

Complete step by step answer: Oil and gas resources when burnt produce enough amounts of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and sulfur dioxide to cause global warming. Large amounts of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide toxic residue mixes with the water droplets present in the atmosphere. This leads to the production of weak solutions of nitric and sulphuric acids. These acids then fall with rain droplets causing acid rain. These acids are weak but strong enough to erode sculptures, buildings, and causing cancers and many other dreaded diseases.
-Option A is deforestation. The burning of oil and gas cannot directly lead to deforestation. Although a large number of trees are cut to establish oil and gas producing plants, burning of these products do not cause deforestation.
-Option B is that the burning of oil and gas causes water pollution which leads to the killing of forests and lakes. This is one of the consequences of burning oil and fuel but not a major one. The ash residues and oil and fuel-producing plants waste, when washed off directly in lakes, do lead to water pollution. But it cannot kill forests and lakes.
-Option C is acid rain. The toxic gases released by the burning of oil and gas directly leads to acid rain. On precipitation, the acid solutions formed in the atmosphere erode down the forests. The lakes get polluted as acidic solutions raise the acidity of water causing damage to aquatic life.
-Option D is forest fire. This is also not the most appropriate answer as burning at forest sites can lead to forest fire only under some special circumstances.
Therefore, the right answer is option C, acid rain.

Note: Acid rain is one of the major concerns nowadays. The real-life examples can be seen through the eroded sculptures. The Taj Mahal of Agra is made of white marble which has turned yellow due to the deposition of acidic solutions by acid rain. More efficient and safe ways need to be discovered to recycle oil and gas and to prevent their burning.