Basic Wastewater Operator Practice Exam

What are chloramines?

1. Separated chlorines

2. Not your chlorines

3. Combined chlorine

4. Disdain

The correct answer is: Combined chlorine

Chloramines are a type of disinfectant formed when chlorine combines with ammonia in water. They consist of various chemical species, primarily monochloramine, dichloramine, and nitrogen trichloride, which differ in the amount of chlorine and ammonia they contain. This combination is utilized particularly in water treatment processes because chloramines are more stable than free chlorine and provide a longer-lasting disinfection effect in the water distribution system. This property makes chloramines effective for maintaining a residual disinfectant in the drinking water supply, which helps control bacteria and pathogens over extended periods. Chloramines are especially valued in situations where chlorinated drinking water might react with organic materials in the water system, leading to the formation of harmful disinfection by-products. In contrast, the other choices do not accurately represent the chemical nature or function of chloramines; they either misinterpret the composition or fail to convey the important role chloramines play in water treatment and public health.