Water Quality Parameters MCQ with answer and solution

Concept

Water quality parameters are broadly divided into physical, chemical, and biological categories. Physical parameters include turbidity, temperature, colour, taste, and odour.

Step-by-step solution

1. Identify the classification of each parameter given in the question. 2. Turbidity is a physical parameter representing clarity. 3. Odour is a physical parameter related to volatile substances and detected by smell. 4. Hardness is caused by multivalent cations (like Ca2+ and Mg2+) and is generally classified under chemical parameters 5. Temperature is a physical parameter affecting biological activity and solubility of gases.

Explanation

Physical water quality parameters are those that can be detected by the senses of sight, smell, touch, or taste. Turbidity is detected by sight, odour by smell, temperature by touch, and hardness (though often chemical in nature regarding ions, it is classified among physical/general aesthetic parameters in standard environmental engineering textbooks along with total solids, taste, odour, turbidity, and temperature). Looking at standard water quality classifications, three listed parameters (Turbidity, Odour, and Temperature) fall under the broader category of physical characteristics or physical-chemical parameters standardly taught in civil engineering exams.

Shortcut

Remember the primary physical parameters: Temperature, Colour, Taste, Odour, and Turbidity. Hardness is chemical,