Chemical Degradation: which description is correct?

• A. Breakdown Through Natural Chemical Reactions
• B. Breakdown Through Microbial Action
• C. Breakdown By Sunlight
• D. Breakdown By Mechanical Action

Answer: (A)

Chemical degradation means the compound breaks down due to chemical reactions that occur in the environment, such as hydrolysis, oxidation, and reduction (and sometimes photolysis). These processes alter the chemical structure without relying on living organisms or physical forces. The broad description of breakdown through natural chemical reactions best captures the idea that degradation happens through chemical changes driven by environmental conditions, rather than by microbes or by mechanical disruption.

Biodegradation, or microbial action, involves enzymes from living organisms breaking down the compound, which is a different category. Breakdown by sunlight points to a specific chemical process driven by light (photolysis), which is a chemical change but is a narrower description than the general idea of natural chemical reactions. Mechanical action describes physical breakup rather than chemical change.