Unwanted chemicals in common materials
Question
Consider the following pairs:
Commonly used / consumed materials : Unwanted or controversial chemicals likely to be found in them
Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?
Options
1 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Explanation
Lipstick (Pair 1) is correctly matched with lead—many lipsticks have been found to contain trace amounts of lead, a toxic metal. Soft drinks (Pair 2) have historically contained brominated vegetable oils (BVO) as an emulsifier, though this has been banned in several countries due to health concerns. Chinese fast food (Pair 3) is correctly matched with monosodium glutamate (MSG), a common flavor enhancer widely used in Asian cuisines. All three pairs are correctly matched with their respective unwanted or controversial chemicals. > Lead in lipstick, BVO in sodas, MSG in Chinese food—all documented chemical concerns. Answer: d.
Question details
Year
2017
Paper
GS Paper 1
Question
Q73
Subject
Science & Technology
Sub-topic
Chemical safety and consumer products
Type
Matching pairs
Difficulty
Medium
Nature
Static
Source hint
General Science, Consumer Product Safety
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