Chemistry Water

What do they Test For?

Hardness, Iron, Chlorine, Nitrates, Dissolved Oxygen, Turbidity, Phosphates, Temperature, pH, and Alkalinity

Hardness

the sum of ions with a charge greater than +1 present in the water

Iron

one of the most prevalent elements in the Earth’s crust

Chlorine

effective and inexpensive way to kill bacteria and other water borne microorganisms

Nitrates

needed in water for plants and animals (part of the nitrogen cycle)

Dissolved Oxygen

Microscopic bubbles of oxygen that are mixed in water

Turbidity

measure of the cloudiness or murkiness of water

Phosphates

essential nutrient for plant life

Temperature

many chemical, physical, and biological characteristics of a stream are directly affected by water temperature

pH

the acidity (or baseness) of a substance, measured from 0 to 14

Alkalinity

water’s ability to resist against changes in pH when acid is added

Adhesion

water molecules stick to other substances; how water makes things wet; water itself is not wet

Cohesion

water molecules stick together due to H bond at surface have more attraction then in the air

Specific Heat

Water has a ________. The amount of energy required to raise the temperature of water by 1 degree Celsius is quite large.

Water Density explained:

Water is most dense at 4 degrees Celsius and then begins to expand again (becoming less dense) as the temperature decreases further. This expansion occurs because its hydrogen bonds become more rigid and ordered.

Colder

Water is less dense as the temperature becomes ______.

Warmer

Water is more dense as the temperature becomes _______.

pH water explained:

Water molecules have a tendency to ionize. They dissociate into ions (charged particles) hydrogen ions (H+) and hydroxide ions (OH-)

Where does your water come from?

Racoon River and Des Moines River