Natural resources – non-renewable MCQs With Answer

Natural resources – non-renewable MCQs With Answer is a compact, exam-focused guide designed for B.Pharm students to master core concepts of non-renewable natural resources. This introduction highlights essential topics such as fossil fuels, mineral ores, nuclear fuels, resource classification, extraction techniques, environmental impacts, and toxicological risks relevant to pharmaceutical sciences and industry. Emphasis is placed on reserves vs resources, energy density, ore beneficiation, radioactivity, heavy metal contamination, and sustainable management practices impacting drug safety and manufacturing. Clear, keyword-rich MCQs reinforce learning and prepare students for exams and practical applications in pharmaceutics, toxicology, and environmental health. Now let’s test your knowledge with 50 MCQs on this topic.

Q1. What is the primary origin of most non-renewable fossil fuels?

• Biogenic accumulation from recent plant remains
• Abiotic synthesis in the mantle
• Thermal decomposition of ancient biological material
• Direct atmospheric polymerization

Correct Answer: Thermal decomposition of ancient biological material

Q2. Which of the following is classified as a non-renewable mineral resource commonly used as a fuel?

• Gypsum
• Coal
• Sandstone
• Calcite

Correct Answer: Coal

Q3. In resource terminology, ‘reserves’ differ from ‘resources’ because reserves are:

• Estimated quantities without economic consideration
• Economically recoverable under current conditions
• Only the total in-situ amount regardless of extraction
• Renewable in a human timescale

Correct Answer: Economically recoverable under current conditions

Q4. Which property is most critical for petroleum reservoir quality?

• Magnetic susceptibility
• Porosity and permeability
• Color and luster
• Hardness

Correct Answer: Porosity and permeability

Q5. Which heavy metal commonly associated with mining poses significant neurotoxicity concerns?

• Iron
• Zinc
• Lead
• Magnesium

Correct Answer: Lead

Q6. The calorific value that excludes latent heat of vaporization of water is known as:

• Gross calorific value (GCV)
• Higher heating value (HHV)
• Lower heating value (LHV)
• Specific heat capacity

Correct Answer: Lower heating value (LHV)

Q7. Which radioactive isotope is most commonly used as fuel in light-water nuclear reactors?

• Uranium-238
• Uranium-235
• Plutonium-242
• Thorium-232

Correct Answer: Uranium-235

Q8. Acid mine drainage primarily results from oxidation of which mineral?

• Hematite
• Pyrite
• Calcite
• Quartz

Correct Answer: Pyrite

Q9. Which mining waste product is a major environmental concern due to cyanide use in gold extraction?

• Tailings
• Overburden
• Runoff water free of chemicals
• Metal-rich placer deposits

Correct Answer: Tailings

Q10. Peak oil theory predicts:

• Immediate disappearance of all oil reserves
• Maximum global oil production followed by decline
• Constant increase in oil production indefinitely
• Oil becoming renewable within decades

Correct Answer: Maximum global oil production followed by decline

Q11. Which refining process is primarily used to break large hydrocarbon molecules into smaller, more valuable ones?

• Hydrotreating
• Cracking
• Distillation
• Alkylation

Correct Answer: Cracking

Q12. Which term describes minerals concentrated enough to be mined profitably with current technology?

• Ore
• Gangue
• Matrix
• Alluvium

Correct Answer: Ore

Q13. Which non-renewable resource is the principal feedstock for many pharmaceutical solvents and intermediates?

• Biomass-derived ethanol
• Petroleum-derived hydrocarbons
• Geothermal steam
• Hydropower electricity

Correct Answer: Petroleum-derived hydrocarbons

Q14. The half-life of a radioactive isotope is best described as:

• The time for activity to double
• The time for half the nuclei to decay
• The time for radiation to stop completely
• The time for isotope to become stable in all atoms

Correct Answer: The time for half the nuclei to decay

Q15. Biomining uses microorganisms primarily to:

• Physically crush ores
• Biologically leach metals from ores
• Convert metals into non-toxic gases
• Increase the hardness of ores

Correct Answer: Biologically leach metals from ores

Q16. Which process separates valuable minerals from gangue using differences in wettability?

• Flotation
• Smelting
• Calcination
• Centrifugation

Correct Answer: Flotation

Q17. Which gas is a major product of incomplete combustion of coal and poses toxicity risks?

• Carbon dioxide
• Carbon monoxide
• Methane
• Nitrogen

Correct Answer: Carbon monoxide

Q18. Tar sands and oil shale are classified as:

• Conventional petroleum resources
• Renewable energy sources
• Unconventional hydrocarbon resources
• Purely biological materials

Correct Answer: Unconventional hydrocarbon resources

Q19. Which measurement unit quantifies radioactivity in terms of disintegrations per second?

• Sievert (Sv)
• Becquerel (Bq)
• Gray (Gy)
• Curie per kilogram (Ci/kg)

Correct Answer: Becquerel (Bq)

Q20. Which concept relates to how long current reserves will last at current extraction rates?

• Resource intensity index
• Reserves-to-production (R/P) ratio
• Geochemical lifetime
• Renewability factor

Correct Answer: Reserves-to-production (R/P) ratio

Q21. Which heavy metal commonly contaminates groundwater near mining sites and can cause renal toxicity?

• Calcium
• Arsenic
• Potassium
• Sodium

Correct Answer: Arsenic

Q22. Which process converts uranium ore into a concentrated form known as yellowcake?

• Electrorefining
• Solvent extraction and precipitation
• Smelting with carbon
• Roasting with sulfuric acid only

Correct Answer: Solvent extraction and precipitation

Q23. Smelting is a metallurgical process that primarily involves:

• Physically separating minerals by size
• Chemically reducing metal oxides to metals
• Using microbes to solubilize metals
• Electroplating metal onto substrates

Correct Answer: Chemically reducing metal oxides to metals

Q24. The pollutant most associated with acid rain from fossil fuel combustion is:

• Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
• Carbon dioxide (CO2)
• Argon (Ar)
• Ozone (O3)

Correct Answer: Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

Q25. Which term describes subsurface rock that traps hydrocarbons in a reservoir?

• Source rock
• Cap rock
• Basement rock
• Alluvial plain

Correct Answer: Cap rock

Q26. Which technique increases recovery by injecting fluids or gases into oil reservoirs?

• Primary recovery
• Enhanced oil recovery (EOR)
• Directional drilling only
• Sediment trapping

Correct Answer: Enhanced oil recovery (EOR)

Q27. Which metal commonly used in drug formulations is extracted from bauxite ore?

• Iron
• Aluminium
• Copper
• Zinc

Correct Answer: Aluminium

Q28. Shale gas extraction by hydraulic fracturing primarily raises concerns about:

• Solar radiation increase
• Groundwater contamination and induced seismicity
• Reduced agricultural yield
• Depletion of atmospheric oxygen

Correct Answer: Groundwater contamination and induced seismicity

Q29. Ore beneficiation aims to:

• Reduce ore grade to waste
• Increase concentration of valuable minerals
• Convert metals to gaseous form
• Neutralize tailings acidity only

Correct Answer: Increase concentration of valuable minerals

Q30. Which inhalation hazard is most directly linked to coal mining and respiratory disease?

• Asbestos fibers
• Silica and coal dust
• Ozone
• Nitrogen gas

Correct Answer: Silica and coal dust

Q31. Which process is commonly used to extract gold from low-grade ores using chemical leaching?

• Cyanidation
• Electrolysis in aqueous NaCl
• Steam distillation
• Magnetic separation only

Correct Answer: Cyanidation

Q32. The principal environmental risk of uranium mining is primarily due to:

• Thermal pollution
• Radioactive dust and radon gas release
• Excessive nutrient runoff
• Ozone depletion

Correct Answer: Radioactive dust and radon gas release

Q33. Which analytical parameter helps estimate the maturity of petroleum source rocks?

• Kerogen type and vitrinite reflectance
• Soil pH
• Magnetic susceptibility
• Electrical conductivity

Correct Answer: Kerogen type and vitrinite reflectance

Q34. Phytomining is an approach to recover metals using:

• Chemical solvents and fuse
• Hyperaccumulator plants that take up metals
• Solar evaporation ponds only
• High-temperature smelting

Correct Answer: Hyperaccumulator plants that take up metals

Q35. Which of the following is a measure of the amount of energy per unit mass in a fuel?

• Calorific value
• Density
• Viscosity
• pH

Correct Answer: Calorific value

Q36. Which regulatory concern specifically affects pharmaceutical manufacturing near mining zones?

• Pharmacopoeial monograph updates only
• Contamination by heavy metals and radionuclides in excipients
• Availability of water with high Vitamin content
• Excessive solar exposure to products

Correct Answer: Contamination by heavy metals and radionuclides in excipients

Q37. The most abundant element in Earth’s crust used as a structural metal is:

• Gold
• Aluminium
• Platinum
• Uranium

Correct Answer: Aluminium

Q38. Which gas is a major component of natural gas and a potent greenhouse gas if released unburned?

• Ethane
• Methane
• Oxygen
• Helium

Correct Answer: Methane

Q39. Which exploration method identifies subsurface structures favorable for hydrocarbon accumulation using sound waves?

• Magnetic surveying
• Seismic reflection
• Remote sensing for vegetation health
• Gravity only

Correct Answer: Seismic reflection

Q40. Long-term contamination of soil by lead primarily affects which physiological system in humans?

• Cardiovascular only
• Central nervous system and hematopoietic system
• Digestive enzyme activation without other effects
• Skeletal muscle exclusively

Correct Answer: Central nervous system and hematopoietic system

Q41. Which term describes organic matter precursor to petroleum and coal found in sedimentary rocks?

• Kerogen
• Gangue
• Laterite
• Quaternary fill

Correct Answer: Kerogen

Q42. Sulfur content in coal influences which of the following environmental outcomes?

• Formation of sulfur dioxide and acid rain
• Increased oxygen content in atmosphere
• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• Neutralization of acid soils

Correct Answer: Formation of sulfur dioxide and acid rain

Q43. Which of the following best describes “unconventional” hydrocarbon resources?

• Resources that require standard drilling only
• Resources requiring advanced extraction like fracking or heating
• Resources that are renewable annually
• Resources exclusive to shallow marine zones

Correct Answer: Resources requiring advanced extraction like fracking or heating

Q44. The presence of high concentrations of which ion in water is a direct indicator of acid mine drainage?

• Calcium
• Sulfate
• Chloride
• Bicarbonate

Correct Answer: Sulfate

Q45. Which isotope ratio is commonly used in tracing contamination from fossil fuel sources?

• Carbon-12 to Carbon-13 (δ13C)
• Hydrogen-1 to Hydrogen-2 only
• Oxygen-18 to Oxygen-17 exclusively
• Calcium-40 to Calcium-44

Correct Answer: Carbon-12 to Carbon-13 (δ13C)

Q46. Which process in mineral processing uses electric current to separate metals from solutions?

• Froth flotation
• Electrowinning
• Gravity concentration
• Bioreduction only

Correct Answer: Electrowinning

Q47. Which environmental remediation technique uses plants to stabilize or extract contaminants from soils?

• Pump-and-treat only
• Phytoremediation
• Thermal desorption exclusively
• Electrokinetic flushing without plants

Correct Answer: Phytoremediation

Q48. In the context of non-renewable resources, ‘resource depletion’ primarily refers to:

• Increased discovery of new resources
• Reduction in accessible or economical quantities over time
• Natural replenishment within years
• Enhanced recovery technologies only

Correct Answer: Reduction in accessible or economical quantities over time

Q49. Which metal is notorious for bioaccumulation in aquatic food chains and is a neurotoxin at low concentrations?

• Copper
• Mercury
• Magnesium
• Sodium

Correct Answer: Mercury

Q50. Sustainable management of non-renewable resources in the pharmaceutical context should prioritize:

• Unlimited extraction to meet short-term demand
• Risk assessment, pollution control, resource efficiency and substitution
• Ignoring environmental regulations to reduce cost
• Exclusive focus on renewable resources only

Correct Answer: Risk assessment, pollution control, resource efficiency and substitution

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