Water Science Exam #2

Water quality and the chemistry of natural waters

Describe common water quality parameters part 1

• generally refers to the chemical properties of water

• temp

• pH

• Alkalinity

• hardness

• salinity

• nutrients

  • most talking about will be alkalinity, hardness, pH, and salinity

Which are ideal for uses part 2

• drinking

  • bacteria, metals, nitrate, pH

• recreation/appearence

  • algea, pH, nitrates, sediments

• agriculture

  • salts, metals, acidity

• industry/power generation

  • power plants heat water, turn turbines, and makes electricity

Inorganic vs Organic in suspended and dissolved solutions

• Inorganic in suspended, sand, salt, and clay (microplastics), in dissolved = Ca, Mg, Na, K, HCO3, trace metals

• Organic  in suspended arious algae and bacteria, in dissolved = really big molecules

Identify the geologic sources of major ions in water

cations - Calcium, Magnesium, sodium, potassium

anions - bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, silicate

Convert between pH and concentration of H+ in a solution (formula)

• pH = log10(H+)

Understanding how alkalinity controls changes in pH.

• Waters with low alkalinity are very susceptible to changes in pH

• Waters with high alkalinity can resist major shifts in pH

Understand the relationship between alkalinity and water hardness.

• Hardness in water is typically defined as the presence of divalent cations. Causes water to form scales and resists the