Community Medicine (PSM) · Environmental Health (Water, Air, Sanitation, Radiation, Housing)

A public health engineer is asked to determine the exact dose of bleaching powder required to disinfect a newly dug well before it is commissioned. Which instrument is specifically designed to estimate the chlorine demand of water?

  • A Jackson candle turbidimeter
  • B Berkefeld filter
  • C Horrock's apparatus
  • D Nessler's comparator
Correct answer: C. Horrock's apparatus

Explanation

Horrock's apparatus is a simple device used to determine the chlorine demand of water, that is, the amount of chlorine needed to leave an adequate free residual after a fixed contact time. It is routinely used for well disinfection in field conditions. Berkefeld is a filter, the candle turbidimeter measures turbidity, and Nessler's reagent tests ammonia, none of which estimate chlorine demand.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

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