The maximum prescribed concentration of copper in drinking water is
(a) 5 ppm
(b) 0.5 ppm
(c) 0.05 p

Q: What exactly does 'ppm' mean?

PPM stands for 'parts per million'. In the context of water, $1 \text{ ppm}$ is equivalent to $1 \text{ milligram}$ of the substance dissolved in $1 \text{ liter}$ of water ($1 \text{ mg/L}$).

Q: How does copper even get into our drinking water?

Copper can enter drinking water through natural deposits in the earth, but it most commonly leaches into water from copper plumbing pipes and fixtures due to corrosion.

Q: What happens if the copper concentration exceeds 3.0 ppm?

Consuming water with copper levels above $3.0 \text{ ppm}$ can cause acute gastrointestinal distress (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) and, over time, can lead to severe liver and kidney damage.

Q: Do I really need to memorize all these random values for JEE?

Yes, unfortunately. Environmental Chemistry in JEE Main frequently features direct factual questions based on standard WHO limits for common metals like $Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd,$ and $Mn$.

Q: Why is the limit for Cadmium so much lower than Copper?

Cadmium is a highly toxic heavy metal that bioaccumulates in the body and is a known carcinogen. Copper, while toxic in large amounts, is actually an essential trace mineral required by the human body in small doses.

Question

The maximum prescribed concentration of copper in drinking water is

Options:

(A) $5	ext{ ppm}$

(B) $0.5	ext{ ppm}$

(C) $0.05	ext{ ppm}$

(D) $3	ext{ ppm}$

Sigma Percentile · Accepted Answer

### The Invisible World in Our Water

Imagine a glass of clear drinking water. It looks pure, refreshing, and completely harmless. However, at a microscopic level, it contains trace amounts of various minerals and metals. While some of these are essential for our biological functions, others can be highly detrimental if their concentrations exceed certain thresholds.

Our question today asks for the maximum allowable concentration of copper in this water. This is a classic factual question from Environmental Chemistry that tests your knowledge of standard health guidelines.

### The Need for Guidelines

To ensure our safety, organizations like the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set strict guidelines for drinking water quality. They define the maximum allowable limits for various trace metals because consuming them in excess can lead to severe health issues, ranging from gastrointestinal distress to chronic organ damage.

These limits are usually expressed in parts per million (ppm), which is equivalent to milligrams per liter ($mg/L$).

### The Specific Limits

Let's look at the prescribed limits for some common metals to understand the context.

Cadmium ($Cd$) is a heavy metal that is highly toxic and carcinogenic, so its limit is set extremely low at **$0.005 	ext{ ppm}$**. Manganese ($Mn$) has a limit of **$0.05 	ext{ ppm}$**.

Metals like Aluminum ($Al$) and Iron ($Fe$) are capped at **$0.2 	ext{ ppm}$**. On the other hand, Zinc ($Zn$), which is relatively less toxic and an essential micronutrient, can be present up to **$5.0 	ext{ ppm}$**.

### The Final Verdict on Copper

Now, what about Copper ($Cu$)? Copper is an essential trace element for humans, but in high doses, it can cause acute toxicity, leading to nausea, vomiting, and long-term liver or kidney damage.

According to the established guidelines, the maximum prescribed concentration for copper in drinking water is exactly **$3.0 	ext{ ppm}$**. Any concentration above this makes the water unsuitable for drinking.

Therefore, the correct answer is **$3.0 	ext{ ppm}$**. Remembering these key values is crucial for scoring quick marks in your JEE exams!

Animated Solution for Chemistry - Environmental Chemistry: The maximum prescribed concentration of copper in drinking water is

Select Answer:

Visualized Solution

$P r o b l e m S t a t e m e n t$

$W H O G u i d e l in es$

$L imi t s f or V a r i o u s M e t a l s$

$L imi t f or C o pp er$

$C o n c l u s i o n$

The Sigma Insight: Water and Soil Pollution

The Invisible World in Our Water

The Need for Guidelines

The Specific Limits

The Final Verdict on Copper

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