Week 2 Lab
Lab 2 – Water Quality and Contamination
Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination
Table 1: Water Observations (Smell, Color, Etc.)
Beaker Observations
1 This beaker has water only, clear with no smell
2 I mixed oil in the water, the oil then started to settle at the top of the water. (oil is not a soluble)
3 Beaker contained vinegar and water, the water got a little cloudy and the vinegar smell is very strong.
4 The water and laundry detergent mix had a soapy look to it, water also became cloudy. Bubbles were on top.
5 Soil and water, the soil has made the water is brown and dirty looking; I can also smell the soil.
6 The oil is still at the top of the water
7 The vinegar smell is still very strong.
8 The water color is still light brown, and foggy with no smell.
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop hypotheses on the ability of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent to contaminate groundwater.
a. Oil hypothesis = The oil will not change the amount of water in the beaker.
b. Vinegar hypothesis = Vinegar will contaminate.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis = The detergent will contaminate the water.
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 because the oil is stuck inside of the soil.
b. Vinegar hypothesis accept/reject = Accept because the vinegar went through the soil.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis accept/reject = Reject because the detergent changed the viscosity of the water.
3. What affects 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 = I would say that the Vinegar was he more potent on the water; I say that because the vinegar passed right through the soil leaving the water more dirty. The oil settled into the soil, so hardly any water could pass.
4. Using at least 1
Experiment 1: Effects of Groundwater Contamination
Table 1: Water Observations (Smell, Color, Etc.)
Beaker Observations
1 This beaker has water only, clear with no smell
2 I mixed oil in the water, the oil then started to settle at the top of the water. (oil is not a soluble)
3 Beaker contained vinegar and water, the water got a little cloudy and the vinegar smell is very strong.
4 The water and laundry detergent mix had a soapy look to it, water also became cloudy. Bubbles were on top.
5 Soil and water, the soil has made the water is brown and dirty looking; I can also smell the soil.
6 The oil is still at the top of the water
7 The vinegar smell is still very strong.
8 The water color is still light brown, and foggy with no smell.
POST LAB QUESTIONS
1. Develop hypotheses on the ability of oil, vinegar, and laundry detergent to contaminate groundwater.
a. Oil hypothesis = The oil will not change the amount of water in the beaker.
b. Vinegar hypothesis = Vinegar will contaminate.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis = The detergent will contaminate the water.
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 because the oil is stuck inside of the soil.
b. Vinegar hypothesis accept/reject = Accept because the vinegar went through the soil.
c. Laundry detergent hypothesis accept/reject = Reject because the detergent changed the viscosity of the water.
3. What affects 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 = I would say that the Vinegar was he more potent on the water; I say that because the vinegar passed right through the soil leaving the water more dirty. The oil settled into the soil, so hardly any water could pass.
4. Using at least 1
References: Turk, J., & Bensel, T. (2014). Contemporary environmental issues (2nd ed.). San Diego, CA: Bridgepoint Education, Inc.