Is diquat likely to leach into groundwater under typical conditions?

• A. It readily leaches into groundwater.
• B. It is unlikely to leach into groundwater.
• C. It rapidly volatilizes into air.
• D. It completely degrades in water instantly.

Answer: (B)

The concept here is how diquat moves in the environment, especially its potential to reach groundwater. Diquat is a positively charged, quaternary ammonium herbicide, so it tends to bind strongly to soil particles and organic matter rather than dissolving and moving with percolating water. That strong sorption, combined with its eventual degradation, means it doesn’t readily travel through soil to groundwater under typical conditions. It’s not volatile, so it won’t rapidly escape into the air, and it doesn’t degrade instantaneously in water either. So the most accurate statement is that diquat is unlikely to leach into groundwater.