Lab 2 – Water Quality and Contamination
Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination
Table 1: Water Observations (Smell, Color, Etc.)
Beaker Observations
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop hypotheses on the ability of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent to contaminate groundwater.
a. Oil hypothesis =
b. Vinegar hypothesis =
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis =
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept each hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
a. Oil hypothesis accept/reject =
b. Vinegar hypothesis accept/reject =
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis accept/reject =
3. What effect did each of the contaminants have on the water in the experiment? Which contaminant seemed to have the most potent effect on the water?
Answer =
4. Using at least one scholarly source; discuss the potential effect of each contaminant (oil, vinegar, and detergent) on the town’s water source and the people who drank the water.
Answer =
5. Describe what type of human activity would cause contaminants like oil, acid, and detergents to flow into the water supply. Additionally, what other items within your house do you believe could contaminate the water supply if you were to dump them onto the ground?
Answer =
Experiment 2: Water Treatment
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop a hypothesis on the ability of your filtration technique to remove contaminants.
Hypothesis =
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/Reject =
3. What are the differences in color, smell, visibility, and so forth between the “contaminated” water and the “treated” water?
Answer =
4. From the introduction to this lab, you know that there are typically five steps involved in the water treatment process. Identify the processes (e.g., coagulation) that were used in this lab. Additionally describe how each of the processes were performed in this lab.
Answer =
Experiment 3: Drinking Water Quality
Table 2: Ammonia Test Results
Water Sample Test Results
Tap Water
Dasani® Bottled Water
Fiji® Bottled Water
Table 3: Chloride Test Results
Water Sample Test Results
Tap Water
Dasani® Bottled Water
Fiji® Bottled Water
Table 4: 4 in 1 Test Results
Water Sample pH Total Alkalinity Total Chlorine Total Hardness
Tap Water
Dasani® Bottled Water
Fiji® Bottled Water
Table 5: Phosphate Test Results
Water Sample Test Results
Tap Water
Dasani® Bottled Water
Fiji® Bottled Water
Table 6: Iron Test Results
Water Sample Test Results
Tap Water
Dasani® Bottled Water
Fiji® Bottled Water
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop a hypothesis on which water source you believe will contain the most and least chemical components.
Hypothesis =
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/reject =
3. Based on the results of your experiment, what major differences, if any, do you notice between the Dasani, Fiji, and tap water?
Answer =
4. Based on your results, do you believe that bottled water is worth the price? Why or why not?
Answer =
Discuss the potential effect of each contaminate oil,vinegar,and detergent on the towns water source and the peopleasure who drink the water
Lab 2 – Water Quality and Contamination
Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination
Table 1: Water Observations (Smell, Color, Etc.)
Beaker Observations
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop hypotheses on the ability of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent to contaminate groundwater.
a. Oil hypothesis = Oil will contaminate groundwater and affect its smell and color.
b. Vinegar hypothesis = Vinegar will contaminate groundwater and affect its smell and pH level.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis = Laundry detergent will contaminate groundwater and affect its color and appearance.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept each hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
a. Oil hypothesis accept/reject = Accept/Reject based on the observations made in the experiment.
b. Vinegar hypothesis accept/reject = Accept/Reject based on the observations made in the experiment.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis accept/reject = Accept/Reject based on the observations made in the experiment.
3. What effect did each of the contaminants have on the water in the experiment? Which contaminant seemed to have the most potent effect on the water?
Answer = The effects of each contaminant on the water can be determined based on the observations made in Table 1. The contaminant that had the most potent effect can be identified by comparing the observations for each contaminant.
4. Using at least one scholarly source; discuss the potential effect of each contaminant (oil, vinegar, and detergent) on the town’s water source and the people who drank the water.
Answer = This question requires research from a scholarly source to discuss potential effects of each contaminant on the town's water source and people's health.
5. Describe what type of human activity would cause contaminants like oil, acid, and detergents to flow into the water supply. Additionally, what other items within your house do you believe could contaminate the water supply if you were to dump them onto the ground?
Answer = Human activities such as industrial spills or improper waste disposal can cause contaminants like oil, acid, and detergents to flow into the water supply. Other items like cleaning chemicals, pesticides, and certain household products can also contaminate the water supply if dumped onto the ground.
Experiment 2: Water Treatment
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop a hypothesis on the ability of your filtration technique to remove contaminants.
Hypothesis = The filtration technique will effectively remove contaminants and improve the quality of the water.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/Reject = Accept/Reject the hypothesis based on the comparison of the "contaminated" water and the "treated" water.
3. What are the differences in color, smell, visibility, and so forth between the “contaminated” water and the “treated” water?
Answer = The differences in color, smell, visibility, and other characteristics can be described by comparing the observations of the "contaminated" water and the "treated" water.
4. From the introduction to this lab, you know that there are typically five steps involved in the water treatment process. Identify the processes (e.g., coagulation) that were used in this lab. Additionally, describe how each of the processes was performed in this lab.
Answer = The processes used in the lab need to be identified based on the information given in the lab manual or instructions.
Experiment 3: Drinking Water Quality
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop a hypothesis on which water source you believe will contain the most and least chemical components.
Hypothesis = The tap water will contain the most chemical components, while the Fiji bottled water will contain the least.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/reject = Accept/Reject the hypothesis based on the comparison of the chemical components in each water source.
3. Based on the results of your experiment, what major differences, if any, do you notice between the Dasani, Fiji, and tap water?
Answer = The major differences observed in the test results for the Dasani, Fiji, and tap water need to be described based on the information provided in Table 2, Table 3, Table 4, Table 5, and Table 6.
4. Based on your results, do you believe that bottled water is worth the price? Why or why not?
Answer = The belief whether bottled water is worth the price should be based on the results of the experiment and a personal evaluation considering factors such as the quality of tap water, cost, and individual preferences.
Lab 2 – Water Quality and Contamination
Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination
Table 1: Water Observations (Smell, Color, Etc.)
Beaker Observations
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
Post Lab Questions
1. Develop hypotheses on the ability of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent to contaminate groundwater.
a. Oil hypothesis = Oil has the ability to contaminate groundwater by creating a layer on the surface, preventing oxygen from dissolving into the water, and potentially causing harm to aquatic organisms.
b. Vinegar hypothesis = Vinegar has the ability to contaminate groundwater by increasing the acidity level, which can disrupt the pH balance and harm aquatic life.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis = Laundry detergent has the ability to contaminate groundwater by introducing chemicals that can alter the chemistry of the water and harm aquatic organisms.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept each hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
a. Oil hypothesis accept/reject = To determine if the oil hypothesis is accepted or rejected, observe the respective beaker and compare it with the control (beaker with only water). If there are observable changes such as a layer on the surface or any noticeable effects on the water quality, the hypothesis can be accepted.
b. Vinegar hypothesis accept/reject = Similarly, observe the beaker with vinegar and compare it with the control. If there are noticeable changes in color, smell, or any other observable effects, the hypothesis can be accepted.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis accept/reject = Again, compare the beaker with laundry detergent to the control. Look for any changes in color, smell, or other observable effects. If significant changes are observed, the hypothesis can be accepted.
3. What effect did each of the contaminants have on the water in the experiment? Which contaminant seemed to have the most potent effect on the water?
Answer = Examine the observations made in Table 1 for each beaker and note any changes in smell, color, or other noticeable effects. Compare the observations of each beaker to determine the effects of each contaminant. The contaminant that caused the most significant changes in water quality, such as strong odor, unusual color, or visible reactions, is considered to have the most potent effect.
4. Using at least one scholarly source, discuss the potential effect of each contaminant (oil, vinegar, and detergent) on the town’s water source and the people who drank the water.
Answer = To discuss the potential effects of each contaminant on the town's water source and people, research scholarly sources that provide information on the impacts of these contaminants. Look for sources that detail the chemical composition and effects of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent on water quality and human health. Cite the sources and summarize the findings to provide an informed response.
5. Describe what type of human activity would cause contaminants like oil, acid, and detergents to flow into the water supply. Additionally, what other items within your house do you believe could contaminate the water supply if you were to dump them onto the ground?
Answer = Describe human activities that can cause contaminants to flow into the water supply. For oil, activities such as oil spills or improper disposal of cooking oil can lead to oil contamination. For acid, activities like industrial waste disposal or improper use of acid-based cleaning products can cause acid contamination. For detergents, activities such as release of laundry wastewater, improper disposal of cleaning products, or accidental spills can result in detergent contamination. Identify other items within a typical household that, if dumped onto the ground, could potentially contaminate the water supply. Examples may include pesticides, herbicides, paint, bleach, or any other chemical products commonly found in households.
Experiment 2: Water Treatment
Post Lab Questions
1. Develop a hypothesis on the ability of your filtration technique to remove contaminants.
Hypothesis = The filtration technique used in this experiment is expected to effectively remove contaminants, resulting in clean and purified water.
2. Based on the results of your experiment, would you reject or accept the hypothesis that you produced in question 1? Explain how you determined this.
Accept/Reject = Evaluate the "treated" water after filtration and compare it with the "contaminated" water. Look for differences in color, smell, visibility, or any other observable characteristics. If the treated water appears to be cleaner and free from the contaminants present in the initial water, the hypothesis can be accepted.
3. What are the differences in color, smell, visibility, and so forth between the "contaminated" water and the "treated" water?
Answer = Compare the characteristics of the "contaminated" water with the "treated" water. Note any differences in color (if the treated water is clearer or has a different color), smell (if the treated water has a different odor or no odor), visibility (if the treated water is less turbid or more transparent), or any other observable changes between the two samples.
4. From the introduction to this lab, you know that there are typically five steps involved in the water treatment process. Identify the processes (e.g., coagulation) that were used in this lab. Additionally, describe how each of the processes were performed in this lab.
Answer = Refer to the lab instructions or introduction to identify the specific processes used in this lab. Common water treatment processes include coagulation, sedimentation, filtration, disinfection, and pH adjustment. Describe how each process was performed in this lab based on the provided instructions or observations made during the experiment.