Sunflowers and Phytoremediation Quiz

What event in 1996 led to sunflowers being planted in Ukraine as a symbol of peace?

• The end of the Cold War

• Ukraine becoming a non-nuclear-weapon state

• The Chernobyl disaster

• The signing of the Kyoto Protocol

What principle is used when employing plants like sunflowers to cleanse the environment?

• Photosynthesis

• Hydroponics

• Phytoremediation

• Bioremediation

Which radioactive isotopes were sunflowers observed to absorb during the Chernobyl project?

• Radio-thorium and radio-plutonium

• Radio-carbon and radio-lead

• Radio-iodine and radio-uranium

• Radio-cesium and radio-strontium

What term describes plants like sunflowers that can absorb large amounts of toxic elements?

• Hyperaccumulators

• Biodegraders

• Phytosynthesizers

• Radiophiles

Why can sunflowers absorb cesium and strontium from the soil?

• They are naturally radioactive

• They mimic essential nutrients like potassium and calcium

• They have a special enzyme for radioisotopes

• They are genetically modified to do so

What is the process called where organic carbon in plants is burnt to leave behind radioactive waste?

• Incineration

• Combustion

• Pyrolysis

• Vitrification

What was a major challenge in using sunflowers for soil decontamination at Chernobyl?

• Sunflowers could not grow in the contaminated soil

• The sunflowers were eaten by local wildlife

• Sunflowers absorbed too much water

• Radio-cesium was already bound to soil particles

What was a key reason for the failure of sunflower phytoremediation in Fukushima?

• A non-extractive variety of sunflower was used

• The sunflowers were not harvested in time

• The sunflowers were planted too late

• The soil was too dry for sunflowers to grow

Which of the following is NOT a requirement for a plant to be effective in phytoremediation?

• Rapid growth and high biomass

• Ability to produce seeds quickly

• Capacity to accumulate contaminants

• High tolerance to contaminants

Which plant is NOT mentioned as being used for phytoremediation?

• Field mustard

• Amaranthus

• Dandelion

• Cockscomb