Unit 4: Environmental Pollution

Date: Thursday, 22nd Jan 26

Answer the following questions:

Q1: What is pollution? Explain the harmful effects it has on living things? Answer:
Pollution occurs when a part of the environment becomes unhealthy for the organisms to live in
it.

Harmful effects of pollution on living things:

1. On Humans: It causes diseases like asthma, lung infection, heart problems and skin
allergies.
2. On Animals: It contaminates their food and water, leading to sickness or death.
3. On Plants: Polluted air and water slow plant growth and damage leaves.
4. On the Environment: It disturbs the balance of nature, harms ecosystem and contributes
to global warming.

Q2: List the major greenhouse gases and explain how each contributes to global warming.
Answer: Two major greenhouse gases are:

1. Carbon dioxide
2. Methane

 Carbon dioxide: It is released by burning fossil fuels like oil, gas and coal. Carbon
dioxide traps heat from the sun in the Earth's atmosphere, preventing it from escaping
into space. This increases the Earth's temperature and causes global warming.
 Methane: It is released from sources like livestock, landfills and rice fields. Methane is
even more effective than carbon dioxide at trapping heat, which makes it a strong
contributor to global warming.

Date: Tuesday, 27th January 2026

Q3: What is meant by biodegradable and non-biodegradable material? Give example of

each.

 Biodegradable materials: These are materials that can be broken down naturally by
microorganism. They can be buried in the ground without causing long term harm to the
environment.
o Example: Paper, vegetable peels, cotton etc.
 Non-biodegradable: These are materials that cannot be broken down naturally if buried.
They can take hundreds of years or even longer to break down.
o Example: Plastic, glass, metal etc.
Q4: How is pollution affecting the earth? Answer: Following are some of the affects of
pollution on Earth:

 Harming animals and plants.

 Causing respiratory disorders in human.
 Global warming.
 Being fatal for aquatic organisms.
 Hearing loss.
 Dangerous to wildlife.
 Loss of fertile land for agriculture.
 Causing acid rain.

Q5: How is marine life being affected by pollution? Suggest ways to overcome this.
Answer: Marine life is affected by oil pollution from shipping accidents and from dumping
waste into the sea. Animals that depend on the sea as part of the food chain are also impacted.
Plastic and other waste material can be fatal for them.

One way to reduce water pollution is to avoid dumping garbage or harmful chemical into water
bodies. Moreover, if people rely less on oil as a source energy, there will be less need for oil
tankers, which will risk of spills.

Unit 5: Physical and Chemical Changes of Matters

Date: Monday, 9th February 26

Answer the following questions:

Q1: How does the freezing of matter take place? Explain with examples. Answer: Freezing
involves taking away energy from a liquid to turn it into a solid. When liquid is frozen, the
particles stop moving and become closer till the liquid becomes a solid. It is the opposite of
melting. Example: Water filled in an ice cube tray when kept in the freezer, changes into solid,
so here the water freezes to form ice cubes.

Q2: What is condensation? Give examples of condensation from your daily life. Answer:
Condensation takes place when a gas is cooled so much that it becomes a liquid. This happens
because the particles in the gas lose energy and start moving closer together. Examples: * Dew
forming on grass in the early morning.

 Eye glasses fogging up when you enter a warm room on a cold winter day etc.
Q3: How is evaporation different from boiling? Explain with examples.

Feature Evaporation Boiling

Heating Heating is not required. Heating is required.

It only happens at a fixed temperature,

Temperature It can occur at normal temperature.
called the boiling point.

Location It occurs on the surface of a liquid. It occurs throughout the liquid.

Bubbles Bubbles are not formed. Bubbles are formed.

Speed It is a slow process. It is a fast process.

When wet clothes dry in the sunlight, When you heat water in a pot, bubbles
Example the water from them evaporates into the form and steam comes out which is
air. boiling.

Date: Tuesday, 10th February 2026

Q4: Differentiate between physical and chemical changes.

Physical Change Chemical Change

In physical change, no new substance is

In chemical change, a new substance is formed.
formed.

Physical change is a temporary change. A chemical change is a permanent change.

A physical change affects only physical A chemical change affects both physical and chemical
properties, i.e., shape, size, etc. properties of substance including its composition.

Examples: Freezing of water, melting Examples: Cooking of food, baking, burning of paper,
Physical Change Chemical Change

of wax, boiling of water etc. rusting of nails, burning of coal etc.

Activity Worksheets: Environmental Pollution

Activity 1: Biodegradable and Non-biodegradable Materials

Name of the items Biodegradable Non-biodegradable

Bread Yes No

Rubber (synthetic) No Yes

Glass No Yes

Egg shells Yes No

Paper Yes No

Fruit peels Yes No

Metal cans No Yes

Animal dung Yes No

Wooden board Yes No

Leaves Yes No

Plastic bags No Yes

Name of the items Biodegradable Non-biodegradable

TV No Yes

Activity 2: Source and Effects of Pollution

 Air pollution: Source is factories (smoke); harmful effects include lung infections and
global warming.
 Water pollution: Source is sewage water; harmful effect is that it contaminates drinking
water.
 Land pollution: Source is garbage; harmful effect is hurting plants and animals.
 Noise pollution: Source is loud horns and music; harmful effect is hearing loss.
 Visual pollution: Source is billboards and power houses; harmful effects include
affecting mental health and making the area look ugly.

Worksheet (Unit 4 Continued)

1. Identify the type of pollution:

 Dumping of rubbish: Land pollution

 Heavy traffic on the road: Noise pollution
 Sewage and waste dumped in streams: Water pollution
 The presence of large objects on the landscape: Visual pollution
 Harmful and poisonous gases, dust and smoke in the air: Air pollution

2. Fill in the blanks:

 Pollution occurs when a part of the environment becomes unhealthy for organisms to
live in.
 Carbon dioxide is one of the example of greenhouse gases.
 Land pollution can be reduced by following three "Rs" Principle: Reduce, Reuse and
Recycle.
 Biodegradable waste is beneficial to the environment.
 Visual pollution spoils the environment.
 Chemical pesticides help plants grow better but contribute to land pollution.
 When non-biodegradable waste is buried in the ground, it can take hundreds of years to
decompose.
4. What is the difference between fog and smog?

 Fog consists of water droplets in the air, whereas smog is a serious air pollutant that
combines fog and smoke. Smog makes it hard to notice things from a distance, and long-
term exposure leads to chronic lung problems.

Worksheet (Unit 5 Continued)

3. What determines whether the matter is in its solid form, liquid form or gas form?

 The movement and the arrangement of the particles determines whether the matter is in
its solid, liquid or gas form.

4. What are the different ways that heating can affect matter?

 Heating can cause matter to change state, expand, or form a new substance.
 Examples:
1. Ice melts into water and water boils to form steam.
2. Metal lids on jars loosen when dipped in hot water because metal expands on
heating.
3. Baking a cake changes the batter into a new form.

5. How do solids melt?

 Solids melt when they are heated. When heat is given to a solid, its particles start moving
faster because they get more energy. As the temperature reaches the melting point of that
material, the particles have enough energy to move away from each other and change
solid into liquid.

Part 1: The "Tricky" Multiple Choice (1–15)

 1. Which of these is NOT a chemical change, even though it involves heat? a) Baking a
chocolate cake b) Boiling water to make steam c) Burning a piece of coal d) Cooking an
egg
2. If a substance's particles start moving faster and spread out until they fill the whole
container, what happened? a) It froze b) It condensed c) It evaporated or boiled d) It
turned into a solid
3. Why is Methane considered a "stronger" contributor to global warming than
Carbon Dioxide in your notes? a) Because it smells bad b) Because it is more effective
at trapping heat c) Because it comes from cars d) Because it stays in the air for only one
day
4. A student buries a cotton shirt and a synthetic rubber shoe. Why will the shirt
disappear first? a) It is non-biodegradable b) Microorganisms can break down the cotton
c) The shoe is made of wood d) The shirt is a chemical change
5. Which type of pollution would most likely cause a person to have trouble seeing a
mountain in the distance? a) Noise pollution b) Land pollution c) Smog (Air pollution)
d) Visual pollution
6. What is the "opposite" of the process that forms dew on the grass? a) Freezing b)
Condensation c) Evaporation d) Melting
7. In a physical change, which of these stays exactly the same? a) The shape of the
matter b) The size of the matter c) The chemical composition (what it's made of) d) The
state (solid/liquid/gas)
8. Dumping warm sewage into a lake is primarily an example of: a) Land pollution b)
Water pollution c) Visual pollution d) Air pollution
9. Why does a metal lid get easier to open after being dipped in hot water? a) The metal
shrinks b) The metal expands c) The metal turns into a liquid d) The metal undergoes a
chemical change
10. Which of these is a "Fast" process that happens throughout the whole liquid? a)
Evaporation b) Condensation c) Boiling d) Freezing
11. Greenhouse gases are like a "blanket" for the Earth because they: a) Keep the sun's
light out b) Trap heat from escaping into space c) Make the Earth colder d) Create
oxygen for us to breathe
12. Which "R" involves turning an old plastic bottle into a new plastic bench? a) Reduce
b) Reuse c) Recycle d) Remove
13. What is the main difference between Fog and Smog? a) Fog is smoke; Smog is water
b) Smog is a mixture of fog and smoke/pollutants c) Fog is more dangerous for lungs d)
There is no difference
14. If you freeze juice to make a popsicle, have you created a new substance? a) Yes,
because it’s hard now b) No, it is a physical change c) Yes, it is a chemical change d) No,
because it changed color
15. Which pollution type is most likely to cause "Hearing Loss"? a) Visual b) Air c)
Water d) Noise

Part 2: Fill in the Blanks (16–30)

 16. Unlike boiling, __________ occurs only at the surface of a liquid.
17. Materials like plastic and glass are called __________ because they take hundreds of
years to break down.
18. When a gas is cooled and its particles move closer together, the process is called
__________.
19. Carbon dioxide is released by burning __________ like oil and coal.
20. A __________ change is permanent and creates a brand-new substance.
21. High levels of air pollution can lead to diseases like __________ and lung infections.
22. __________ pollution involves large objects like billboards that spoil the view.
23. In a solid, particles stop moving around and stay in a __________ position.
24. __________ waste, like fruit peels, is beneficial to the environment when buried.
25. The movement and __________ of particles determine if matter is solid, liquid, or gas.
26. Acid rain is a harmful effect of __________ pollution.
27. When heat is given to a solid, its particles get more __________ and start moving faster.
28. The 3Rs stand for Reduce, __________, and Recycle.
29. __________ gas is released from landfills and livestock.
30. Melting is the opposite of __________.

Part 3: True or False — Challenge Edition (31–40)

Note: If the statement is false, the student must explain why to get the point.

31. True/False: Evaporation requires a heat source like a stove to happen.

32. True/False: Burning a piece of paper is a physical change because you can still see the
ash.
33. True/False: Noise pollution can be dangerous to wildlife, not just humans.
34. True/False: Biodegradable materials cause long-term harm to the environment.
35. True/False: Condensation happens because particles gain energy from the cold.
36. True/False: Global warming is caused by heat being trapped in the atmosphere.
37. True/False: Liquid particles are closer together than solid particles.
38. True/False: Smog is a natural weather event that has nothing to do with factories.
39. True/False: Breaking a glass window is a chemical change because it is permanent.
40. True/False: Using less plastic is an example of "Reducing."

Part 4: Short Answer & Scenario Solving (41–50)

41. Scenario: You leave your wet umbrella on the porch. An hour later, it is dry. What
happened to the water? Use the correct scientific term.
42. Comparison: Explain why baking a cake is a chemical change, but melting chocolate is
a physical change.
 43. Environment: How does "Visual Pollution" affect the mental health of people living in a
city?
44. Particles: Describe what happens to the particles of water when you put it in a freezer.
45. Pollution: Why is land pollution dangerous for agriculture (farming)?
46. States of Matter: Why do liquids take the shape of the container they are in, but solids
do not?
47. Greenhouse Effect: If we stopped burning fossil fuels today, which greenhouse gas
would we reduce the most?
48. Marine Life: Give two reasons why plastic in the ocean is fatal for sea animals.
49. Identification: You see a rusty nail. Is this a physical or chemical change? Prove your
answer.
50. The 3Rs: You have an old glass jar. Give one example of how you could Reuse it and
one example of how you could Recycle it.

How to use this:

 For the Student: Try to answer these without looking at your notes first!
 The "Twist": Questions 1, 10, 14, 32, and 39 are designed to catch students who confuse
"permanent" with "chemical" or "bubbles" with "evaporation."

Part 1: Multiple Choice Answers

1. b) Boiling water to make steam (It's still water/$\text{H}_2\text{O}$, just in a different
state—physical change).
2. c) It evaporated or boiled (Particles in gas move fastest and fill the whole container).
3. b) Because it is more effective at trapping heat.
4. b) Microorganisms can break down the cotton (Cotton is biodegradable).
5. c) Smog (Air pollution) (Smog reduces visibility and makes distant objects hard to see).
6. c) Evaporation (Dew is condensation/gas to liquid; its opposite is liquid to gas).
7. c) The chemical composition (In physical changes, the "stuff" it's made of never
changes).
8. b) Water pollution.
9. b) The metal expands (Heat gives particles energy to move apart).
10. c) Boiling (Evaporation is surface-only and slow; boiling is throughout and fast).
11. b) Trap heat from escaping into space.
12. c) Recycle (Processing waste into a new product).
13. b) Smog is a mixture of fog and smoke/pollutants.
14. b) No, it is a physical change (Freezing is reversible and doesn't make a new substance).
15. d) Noise.

Part 2: Fill in the Blanks Answers

 16. Evaporation
17. Non-biodegradable
18. Condensation
19. Fossil fuels
20. Chemical
21. Asthma
22. Visual
23. Fixed
24. Biodegradable
25. Arrangement
26. Air
27. Energy
28. Reuse
29. Methane
30. Freezing

Part 3: True or False (with Explanations)

31. False. Evaporation can happen at normal temperatures without a stove (like clothes
drying).
32. False. It is a chemical change because the ash is a new substance and you can't turn it
back into paper.
33. True. Noise pollution is dangerous to wildlife as it disturbs their natural environment.
34. False. They are beneficial because they break down naturally and don't cause long-term
harm.
35. False. Particles lose energy when they cool down during condensation.
36. True. Greenhouse gases trap heat, causing the Earth’s temperature to rise.
37. False. Particles in a solid are the closest together; liquid particles have a bit more space to
move.
38. False. Smog is a pollutant caused by smoke and fog, often from factories and cars.
39. False. It is a physical change. Even though it's "permanent" (hard to fix), it’s still glass.
No new substance was made.
40. True. Using less of a material is the definition of "Reducing."

Part 4: Short Answer & Scenario Solving

41. Evaporation. The liquid water on the umbrella gained energy from the air/sun and turned
into water vapor (gas).
42. Baking a cake creates a new substance that cannot be reversed. Melting chocolate only
changes its state from solid to liquid; it is still chocolate and can be frozen back into a
solid.
43. It makes the area look ugly and can be depressing or distracting for people, affecting their
mood.
44. The particles lose energy, slow down, and move closer together until they stay in a fixed
position to form a solid (ice).
45. It causes a loss of fertile land, making it difficult for crops to grow properly.
46. Liquids have particles that can slide past each other, allowing them to flow. Solids have
particles packed tightly in a fixed arrangement.
47. Carbon dioxide (as it is mainly released by burning fossil fuels).
48.
1. Animals can mistake it for food and choke. 2. It contaminates the water and
disrupts the food chain.
49. Chemical change. Rust (iron oxide) is a brand-new substance that forms when iron
reacts with oxygen and water; it cannot be easily changed back into pure iron.
50. Reuse: Using the jar as a pencil holder or for storing spices. Recycle: Putting it in a
recycling bin so a factory can melt it down to make a new glass bottle.