Yr.

11 Chemistry Water Quality SAC

Name: Date:

Water is a very important substance that is essential to life on earth. One of the major sources of water for many organisms is rivers and creeks. For that reason its important that we continue to monitor the health of these rivers and creeks as if they become overly polluted there will be dire consequences for both humans and animals and the environment. One way of determining the health of a stream is to assess its water chemistry using a variety of instruments and wet chemistry techniques. In this investigation you will be determining the health of Dandenong Creek at a sample site in Boronia be determining its water chemistry. The variables you will be measuring are pH, temperature, dissolved O2 (DO), turbidity, conductivity, chloride ion concentration and Iron ion concentration.

Aim

Materials
Bucket data-logger with pH, temperature, conductivity and DO probes Turbidity tube sample Jar empty plastic bottle

2 marks

Method
1. Collect a bucketful of water from the stream (Which part of the stream did you collect the water from? Why did you collect it from there?)

2. Use the data-logger and its assorted probes (they should be clearly labelled) to measure the following properties of the water sample. o o o o pH Conductivity Temperature DO2

2 marks

3. Use the turbidity tube to determine the turbidity of the water. Make sure the water is well mixed. Using the empty plastic bottle pour water into the tube until you can no longer see the pattern on the bottom. Record the depth in meters at this point.

Collect a sample of the water in a sample jar for further testing in the lab.

4. Chloride test procedure 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Rinse a small flask with 10 ml of the water sample Pour 50ml of the sample water into a small flask Add 2 drops of reagent , carefully swirl the bottle and the solution should turn violet While swirling the flask add reagent 2 drop by drop until the solution turns yellow Place a plastic tip on the syringe and draw up 1 ml of reagent 3 Add reagent 3 drop by drop while swirling to the flask after each drop until the solution turns violet again 7. Determine the amount in mls added from the syringe scale. This number multiplied by 100 will give you a result in mg/L of chloride ions. 5. Iron test procedure 1. 2. 3. 4. Rinse the colour cube with the sample water then fill the cube to the top Add a scoop of reagent 1 to the cube, cap and shake well Let stand for approximately 2 mins Determine which colour matches the solution in the Cubans record the result as mg/L

Results

Property pH Temperature Conductivity Dissolved O2 (DO2) Turbidity Chloride ion concentration Iron ion concentration

Units -

Value

7 marks

Discussion Questions 1. What does pH measure and what does the pH of your water sample tell you about the water in the stream?

2 marks 2. What is the hydronium ion concentration of the water in the stream?

2 marks 3. What is the hydroxide ion concentration? How could the temperature of the water affect the accuracy of this calculation?

3 marks 4. What is temperature actually measuring?

1 mark

5. From the solubility curve of O2 gas below how could the temperature of the water effect the amount of DO? How do your results compare?

Dissolved Oxygen (mg/L)

15 13 11 9 7 0 5

Oxygen Solubility curve

10

15

20

25

30

35

Temperature (C)

2 marks 6. Draw the electron configuration of a chlorine atom and a chloride ion. What is the difference between them?

3 marks 7. What property of chlorides explains their presence in most of our river systems?

1 mark

8. The concentration of chloride ions is given in mg/L in your results, what is the concentration in mol/L?

2 marks 9. Iron is found naturally in rivers and creeks but there are other factors that can contribute to high iron levels in streams. Which complex redox process could be a contributing factor to high iron levels in river and creeks? What conditions are needed for this process to take place?

2 marks 10. During one stage of this process Fe2+ is oxidised to another type of iron ion. Write the half equation for this oxidation.

1 mark 11. The source of Dandenong creek is in the Doongal Forest and its water quality is classified as excellent. Below is a summary of the water quality at this site, how does your data compare? pH 7.6 Temperature 12.3 C DO 10 mg/L Conductivity 150 S/cm Turbidity 12 NTU

Source Annual Summary Waterway Water Quality Data, 2011, Melbourne Water

2 marks

Wet Chemistry Method Wet chemistry, also known as classical chemistry is a type of chemical analysis that doesnt use any instruments to obtain the results. Instead a scientist will use a reaction or series of reactions to analyse the sample. These reactions always take place in the liquid phase, if a solid substance is to be analysed then it must first be dissolved into solution before it can be analysed. The procedures for this type of analysis can be complex with multiple reagents and steps but the outcomes are very accurate. Instrumental Method The instrumental method of analysis is when the analysis of a substance is completed by using an instrument, often a probe or meter such as a temperature probe or pH-meter. These instruments allow you to get quick and efficient results of many samples in a short time but require calibrating before they can be used with any accuracy. The instruments are calibrating using a set of standard solutions of known quantities so that it can be checked that results match the known quantities.

12. Using the information above discuss the difference between using instrumental or wet chemistry methods in water quality testing. Comment on the advantages and disadvantages of both of the methods, sources of error, how they relate to each other and how you used them in your investigation.

Conclusion

5 marks

1 mark