Chemistry for Class 12 (Student Resource)

Copyright 2012 Wiley India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.

Analysis of Value Based Questions (Chemistry)

Values on which the Questions are Based

S. No. Value
1. Environment conservation
2. Self-awareness
3. Dignity of an individual
4. Critical thinking
5. Decision making
6. Social injustice
7. Culture values
8. Water conservation
9. Social responsibility
10. Inclusion
11. Scientific attitude
12. Problem analysis
13. Diversity
14. Equality
15. Energy conservation

Note: Questions can be based on one or more of the above values.

Value Based Questions (with Answers)
Chemistry

1. In a slum near the factory of a big dry cleaners chain, there was increases incidence of
cancer. The residents used water from hand pump for consumption and this was found to
contain carcinogenic material. The environmentalist led campaign for shutting down of the
factor. The factory owner agreed to use liquefied carbon dioxide with suitable detergent is
an alternative solvent instead of tetrachlorethene.
(a) Would this step by the drycleaner take care of the damage to the ground water?
(b) Will use of liquefied carbon dioxide with detergent be completely safe from the point of
view of pollution?

Answer
(a) Tetrachloroethene (Cl
2
= CCl
2
) earlier being used as a solvent for dry cleaning and contaminated
the ground water, is a suspected carcinogen. The dry cleaner adopted the process using liquefied
carbon dioxide, with a suitable detergent in place of tetrachloroethene. Replacement of
halogenated solvent by liquid CO
2
will result in less harm to ground water.
(b) Use of liquefied CO
2
along with detergent will not be completely safe because detergents also
cause pollution as most of the detergents are non biodegradable. Also, liquefied CO
2
will
ultimately enter into the atmosphere and contribute to the greenhouse effect.

Chemistry for Class 12 (Student Resource)
Copyright 2012 Wiley India Pvt. Ltd. All rights reserved.
2. Ramesh participated in a group discussion in school on the ill-effects of alcohol
consumption on health and the dangers of drunken driving. In the evening he went out to a
party with his family where his father had a few drinks. He objected to his father drinking
and on the way back insisted that his mother drives them back. On the way back home, he
saw traffic policemen stopping the cars to check the alcohol levels in the drivers using a
breath analyzer. They were allowed to pass because his mother was driving.
(a) Do you think it was fine for his father to drink as long as somebody else is there to drive?
(b) How did the traffic policemen check the alcohol levels using breath analyzer?

Answer
(a) The danger of drunken driving was taken care by the fact that Rameshs mother was driving but
his father would still suffer from the harmful effects of alcohol consumption on his health.
(b) The breath analyzer is based on the oxidation reaction of primary alcohols to carboxylic acid in
presence of dichromate ions. The level of alcohol is checked when a measured amount of breath
is bubbled through acidified dichromate solution. The reddish-orange color of dichromate
changes to green (chromate) and the extent of color change is a measure of the alcohol level.