Water Analysis

Purpose: The purpose of this experiment is to analyze four drinking water samples from different places using four of the standard drinking water tests required by the EPA. The experiment will be performed by a four person group, with each person providing a different water sample. The four tests to be performed are: pH, conductivity, phenolphthalein and total alkalinity, and total and non-carbonate hardness. Data from these four tests will be gathered and analyzed, drawing conclusions “about the validity of the data as well as the quality of water” (Kippenhan 137). All of the techniques that will be used in this lab have already been learned in previous experiments. These tests are important; drinking water must meet certain standards of these tests to be considered drinkable.

Materials:
Chemicals:
4 Drinking water samples from different sources

Glassware:
1 250mL Erlenmeyer flask 1 150mL beaker
1 250mL beaker 1 50mL volumetric pipette
Test #1 – pH
Equipment/Glassware:
Laptop with Logger Pro Chemicals: pH probe pH 4 buffer solution
3 10 mL beakers pH 7 buffer solution
1 support stand and clamp pH 10 buffer solution Test #2 – Conductivity
Equipments/Glassware: Chemicals:
Laptop with Logger Pro NaCl std. soln. (lowconductivity)
Conductivity probe and Switch box NaCl std. soln. (med. conductivity)
2 10mL beakers

Test # 3 – Phenolphthalein and Total Alkalinity Equipment/Glassware: Chemicals: 1 support stand and buret clamp Phenolphthalein indicator
50mL buret
1 50 mL volumetric pipette 0.010 M HCl
1 short stem funnel 10% Thiosulfate indicator
Glass stirring rod

References: 1. Kippenhan, Edith. Chem 1290 Laboratory Manual: Water Analysis. Cengage Learning. Mason, Ohio. 2012. 2. Procedure given to us in lab. 3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_dissolved_solids 4. http://www.watersystemscouncil.org/VAiWebDocs/WSCDocs/9709284pH_Update_September_2007.pdf