5. The pH of water sample collected from a river was found to be acidic in the range of 3.5 – 4.5, on the banks of the river were several factories that were discharging effluents into the river. The effluents of which one of the following factories is the most likely cause for lowering the pH of river water?
5. The pH of water sample collected from a river was found to be acidic in the range of 3.5 – 4.5, on the banks of the river were several factories that were discharging effluents into the river. The effluents of which one of the following factories is the most likely cause for lowering the pH of river water?

(a) Soap and detergent factory

(b) Lead battery manufacturing factory

(c) Plastic cup manufacturing factory

(d) Alcohol distillery

Correct option – (  d )

Explanation – alcohol distillery is responsible for lowering the pH of the river water and making it acidic . Alcohol is produced by the fermentation . When alcohol is oxidized into ethanoic acid then its side effect is that it changes the pH of the water and makes it acidic