Wyoming Pesticide Applicator Certification Practice Test

What is the outcome of the degradation process of a chemical compound in relation to its toxicity?

1. The compound becomes more toxic

2. The compound becomes inert

3. The compound becomes highly volatile

4. The compound becomes less toxic

The correct answer is: The compound becomes less toxic

During the degradation process of a chemical compound, the compound breaks down into less toxic substances. This means that the original compound that may have had harmful effects becomes less harmful as it degrades. It is crucial to understand the degradation process of pesticides to ensure that they do not accumulate to dangerous levels in the environment or pose a risk to non-target organisms. Option A is incorrect because if the compound were to become more toxic during the degradation process, it would pose a greater risk to the environment and non-target organisms. Option B is incorrect as it suggests that the compound becomes inert, which means it would no longer have any effect, whereas degradation usually involves the breakdown into less harmful substances. Option C is incorrect as the compound becoming highly volatile would refer to its tendency to evaporate, not necessarily its toxicity level.