Question Discussion & Solution

Explanation:

Composting is one of the options for the treatment of solid waste. In the composting process, the organic matter breaks down under bacterial action resulting in the formation of humus like material called compost.

• Vermicomposting: It involves the use of earthworms for composting organic solid waste. It is a resourceful way to recycle your food waste into compost. It takes about 2-3 months.
• Vermicompost (worm manure) is the end-product of the breakdown of organic matter by earthworms. 
• This process of increasing the fertility of soil by earthworms is known as vermicomposting.

Hence, fertilizer produced by the earthworm is called Vermicompost.

Additional Information

Biofertilizers: 

• ​Is a substance that contains living micro-organisms that, when applied to seeds, plant surfaces, or soil, colonize the rhizosphere or the interior of the plant and promotes growth by increasing the supply or availability of primary nutrients to the host plant. 
• Biofertilizers add nutrients through the natural processes of Nitrogen fixation.
• Examples: Rhizobium, Azotobacter, Blue-green algae, Azospirilium.

Nitrogen fertilizer:

• Urea, also known as carbamide, is an organic compound with the chemical formula CO(NH₂)₂.
• This amide has two –NH₂ groups joined by a carbonyl functional group.
• Urea serves an important role in the metabolism of nitrogen-containing compounds by animals and is the main nitrogen-containing substance in the urine of mammals.
• The main function of Urea fertilizer is to provide the plants with nitrogen to promote green leafy growth and make the plants look lush.
• Urea has the highest nitrogen content of all solid nitrogenous fertilizers in common use.

The correct answer is Zila Parishad → Panchayat Samiti → Village Panchayat.

Key Points

• Panchayati Raj
  • Panchayati Raj is the system of local self-government of villages in rural India as opposed to urban and suburban municipalities.
  • It consists of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through which the self-government of villages is realized.
  • They are tasked with "economic development, strengthening social justice and implementation of Central and State Government Schemes including those 29 subjects listed in the Eleventh Schedule."
  • ​Part IX of the Indian Constitution is the section of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats.
  • It stipulates that in states or Union Territories with more than two million inhabitants there are three levels of PRIs:
    • Zilla Parishad at the District Level
    • Panchayat Samiti at the Block Level
    • Gram/Village Panchayat at the Village Level

 Additional Information

• The Panchayat Raj system was first adopted by the state of Rajasthan in Nagaur district on 2 Oct 1959 but first started by Andhra Pradesh.
• During the 1950s and 60s, other state governments adopted this system as laws were passed to establish panchayats in various states.
• The modern Panchayati Raj system was introduced in India by the 73rd constitutional amendment in 1993.

The correct answer is Esterification.

Key Points

• Esterification -
  • Acid + Alcohol = Ester
  • It is a chemical reaction that forms at least one ester.
  • Esters are produced when acids are heated with alcohol.

Additional Information

• Crystallization -
  • The process of obtaining a pure solid in the form of crystals from a saturated solution is called crystallization.
  • In crystallization, the solution is first evaporated to separate a solid from the solution.
  • When the solution becomes very concentrated, the solution is cooled slowly by stopping evaporation, causing crystals to form.
• Saponification -
  • The saponification of a fat or oil is done by using NaOH solution for the hot process.
  • Saponification to the sodium salt of myristic acid takes place with NaOH in water.
  • Soap is formed by a chemical reaction by heating an aqueous solution of vegetable oil or fat and caustic soda or caustic potash, and glycerol is liberated.

The correct answer is Vinegar.

Key Points

• The substance that has a pH value lower than 7 is acidic in Nature.
• Vinegar is an aqueous solution of acetic acid and trace chemicals that may include flavourings.
• Vinegar typically contains 5–8% acetic acid by volume.
• Usually, acetic acid is produced by the fermentation of ethanol or sugars by acetic acid bacteria.

Additional Information

pH value of some useful substances:

• Common salt - about 7
• Sugar - about 7
• Ethanol - 7.33
• Vinegar - 2.5
• HCl - 3.01
• Milk - 6.5 to 6.7
• Blood - 7.35 to 7.45 

The correct answer is Gypsum.

• Gypsum is available in the Nagaur district in a significant amount.

Key Points

• Nagaur is the fifth largest district in Rajasthan.
• Gypsum is composed of calcium sulphate (CaSO₄) and water (H₂O).
• Its chemical name is Calcium Sulphate Dihydrate (CaSO₄. 2H₂O).

Additional Information

• Beryllium is found in the Ajmer and Udaipur mines of Rajasthan.
• Copper is found in the Khetri copper belt in Rajasthan.
• Silver is found in Zawar mines in Udaipur.