Identify from the following a group containing all non-biodegradable substances.
Identify from the following a group containing all non-biodegradable substances.
Options
Official answer
(C) DDT, Polyester, Glass
Hint
Check each item's ability to be broken down by biological (bacterial/enzymatic) action.
Common mistakes
- 1.Assuming all 'chemical-sounding' items (like DDT) but forgetting glass/polyester are also non-biodegradable when scanning options quickly.
- 2.Confusing leather, silk and wool (natural, biodegradable) with synthetic look-alike fabrics.
Analysis and explanation
As the chapter states, substances that are broken down by biological processes are biodegradable, while those not broken down in this manner are non-biodegradable and may persist in the environment for a long time.
- (A) Leather, Glass, Plastic — incorrect. Leather (an animal-derived product) is biodegradable; only glass and plastic are non-biodegradable.
- (B) Cotton, Wood, Nylon — incorrect. Cotton and wood are natural, biodegradable materials; only nylon (a synthetic polymer) is non-biodegradable.
- (C) DDT, Polyester, Glass — correct. DDT is a synthetic pesticide (chemically stable, resists microbial breakdown, and undergoes biological magnification as described in the chapter), polyester is a synthetic polymer, and glass is an inert material — none of these are acted upon by decomposers under ordinary environmental conditions, so all three are non-biodegradable.
- (D) Leather, Silk, Wool — incorrect. All three are natural, animal-derived (organic) substances and are readily biodegradable.
Interesting facts
DDT does not just resist degradation — it also undergoes biological magnification, meaning its concentration increases at each successive trophic level, with the highest concentration reaching humans at the top of the food chain.
Question details
Q16 of 39 questions
- Board
- CBSE
- Class
- Class 10
- Subject
- Science
- Year
- 2025
- Section
- Section A
- Marks
- 1
- Type
- MCQ
- Chapter
- Our Environment
- Topic
- Non-biodegradable substances
- Bloom's level
- Understand
- Syllabus topic
- Managing the Garbage we Produce
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Frequently asked questions
How many marks does this question carry in CBSE Class 10 Science 2025?
This question carries 1 mark in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2025 examination.
Which chapter does this question come from in Science?
This question is from the chapter "Our Environment" in the CBSE Class 10 Science syllabus.
What topic does this question cover in Science?
This question covers the topic "Non-biodegradable substances" from CBSE Class 10 Science.
What type of question is this in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2025 paper?
This is a MCQ question from Section A in the CBSE Class 10 Science 2025 paper.