Determination of the Cause of a Fish-Kill in Clark Fork of Columbia River Daniel Parker Cheyne Warren Lab 14 11/6/13

Introduction The experiment is to determine the presence of a variety of ions in a sample of water from the Clark Fork of the Columbia River. The experiment will also determine the concentrations of Fe3+ and Cu2+ ions. The end goal is to determine the salinity of the water sample. In 1984, the Clark Fork of the Columbia River experienced a fish-kill. Any number of factors could have caused this. The purpose of this experiment is to determine whether the cause of the 1984 fish-kill was caused by a high salinity. Should the combined concentration of Fe3+ and Cu2+ exceed 500 ppm (the maximum salinity allowed in the definition of freshwater), the salinity of the water will be determined to have been the cause of the fish kill. This technique will examine emission spectrums and absorptions. The emission date will prove the presence of the ions in the sample. The absorption will determine the concentration of the ions in the sample. This data will conclude the salinity of the water sample. Experimental Chemicals to be Used:

Standard 0.5 M NaCl solution Standard 0.5 M LiCl solution Standard 0.5 M KCl solution Standard 0.5 M CaCl2 solution Standard 0.5 M BaCl2 solution

Standard 0.5 M SrCl2 solution Standard Fe/Cu solution containing 400ppm Cu2+ and 400ppm Fe3+ in SCN-

solution

Simulated Clark Fork water sample

Prepare samples of standard solution for NaCl, LiCl, KCl, CaCl2, BaCl2, SrCl2 and water sample. Prepare MeasureNet Spectrophotometer for emission spectroscopy. Set up and clean a Bunsen burner by heating the coil until red and dipping it in water. Proceed when the burner doesnt have a colored flame. Clean nichrome wire. Place a small amount of NaCl into a watch glass and place it next to the burners intake. Place nichrome wire into the burner flame until glowing hot. With the assistance of a partner, place and nichrome wire into the sample in the watch glass and press sample on the MeasureNet station. Record data and save. Repeat for the rest of the metal solutions and your water sample. Clean up equipment and set up MeasureNet Spectrophotometer to determine absorbance. Prepare 3 samples of Cu2+ solution using 10ml volumetric flask; Samples will be at 400ppm, 200ppm, and 50ppm. Place each prepared sample in a separate cuvette. Wipe clear side of cuvettes with Kimwipes, any dirt or fingerprints will warp the data. Insert and record data from MeasureNet Spectrophotometer, being sure to zero and take a reference before each sample. Repeat for Fe3+, using 20ppm, 10pp, and 5ppm. Perform absorption experiment on one cuvette of your water sample. Clean up your station.

Determine the presence of ions in water sample from your data. Determine the concentration of Fe3+ and Cu2+. Results Emission for ions & water sample:

4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 Intensity Na 1500 1000 500 0 -500 Wavelength/nm 205.33 230.98 256.46 281.77 306.92 331.89 356.68 381.29 405.73 429.97 454.03 477.9 501.58 525.06 548.34 571.41 594.29 616.95 639.4 661.64 683.67 705.47 727.05 748.41 769.54 790.43 811.1 831.52 851.71 Intensity K Intensity Ba Intensity water sample Intensity Sr Intensity Li

Concentrations: Cu2+ (200*10)/400=5mL Fe3+ (10*10)/20=5mL (5*10)/10=5mL (50*10)/200=2.5mL

Cu Concentration(ppm)

Lambda max: 346.49nm Absorption

Fe Concentration(ppm)

Lambda max:N/A Absorption

400 200 50

0.92 0.35 0.08 Unknown: 0.139 Absorbance:

20 10 5

Fe3+

Cu2+

(0.139+0.0753)/0.0024=89ppm

Discussion This data indicates the definite presence of sodium ions. Based on our absorbency graphs, we can infer that the presence of copper was in the sample. However, we did not obtain emission sample of copper or iron, so we cannot conclude the presence of those ions in our data. During the absorbency trial for iron ions, there was a miscommunication, which could explain why samples that should have been strikingly different turned out nearly the same. It is also possible, based on the odd shape of this graph, that there could have been contamination. Conclusion Based on our data, we concluded that there was the presence of sodium ions in our water sample, and that the sample consisted of 89 ppm copper ions. Since the definition of fresh water allows for ppm of 500 or less, the findings suggest the water salinity was not the cause of the fish-kill in the Columbia River. However, acceptable data for iron ion concentration may prove to show that the salinity was in fact near or above the 500 ppm mark.

Bibliography N/A. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fresh_water Santan, B. (2010). Experiments in general chemistry. (2nd ed., pp. 185-187). Belmont,CA Brooks/Cole and Cengage Learning.