UPSC Prelims 2008 Q60: Science & Technology – Chemistry
What is Agent Orange?
- (a) An ace spying group trained by the Police in London
- (b) A weed - killing chemical used by the US Military in the Vietnam War
- (c) A technique used in the advanced railway safety procedure
- (d) A special chemical used in making alloy steel
Answer: (b) A weed - killing chemical used by the US Military in the Vietnam War
Explanation
What "Agent Orange" is
This infamous chemical compound became notorious for its devastating use during a major 20th-century war.
| Option | Verdict | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| (a) An ace spying group trained by London Police | Incorrect | Not related to espionage |
| (b) A weed-killing chemical used by the US Military in Vietnam | Correct | Agent Orange was a herbicide/weed-killing chemical used extensively by the US Military during the Vietnam War, causing severe environmental and health effects |
| (c) An advanced railway safety technique | Incorrect | Unrelated to railway technology |
| (d) A special chemical for alloy steel | Incorrect | Unrelated to metallurgy |
Agent Orange facts:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Use | Herbicide (defoliant) |
| Context | Vietnam War, US Military |
Answer: (b) A weed-killing chemical used by the US Military in the Vietnam War.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Agent Orange is not related to espionage.
- (b) CORRECT. Agent Orange was a herbicide used by the US Military during the Vietnam War.
- (c) Incorrect. It is unrelated to railway technology.
- (d) Incorrect. It is unrelated to alloy steel manufacturing.
Key point
Agent Orange was a weed-killing chemical (herbicide/defoliant) used by the US Military during the Vietnam War, with lasting environmental and health consequences.
Remember
Agent Orange: a weed-killing chemical used by the US Military in the Vietnam War.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Agent Orange's chemical/military nature with unrelated technical or espionage terms.
- Not knowing the specific Vietnam War context of its notorious use.
- Mixing up this historically significant chemical with unrelated industrial terms.
Exam tip
Agent Orange = herbicide used in the Vietnam War, a well-known historical chemical-warfare reference.
Sources
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Agent Orange
- Institute of Medicine, US National Academies — Veterans and Agent Orange: Update 2008