What are the two main goals of environmental chemistry?

• A. To study pollution to increase industrial output.
• B. To understand and reduce pollution and protect ecosystems.
• C. To maximize chemical production in air, water, and soil.
• D. To classify all pollutants by color.

Answer: (B)

Environmental chemistry centers on how chemicals behave in air, water, and soil and how pollutants affect living things. The two main goals are to understand these chemical processes well enough to predict what pollutants will do in the environment, and to reduce pollution to protect ecosystems and health. This means studying how contaminants move, transform, and accumulate, then applying that knowledge to clean up pollutants, prevent harm, and design cleaner technologies. The option that describes understanding and reducing pollution while protecting ecosystems matches both parts of that aim. Choices about increasing industrial output, maximizing production, or classifying pollutants by color don’t align with these protective and predictive objectives.