German_phosphate&phytoplankton

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Florida Atlantic University *

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293

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Chemistry

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Dec 6, 2023

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docx

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8

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Phosphate and Phytoplankton Lab Elizabeth German Lab Partners: Tehya Fulcher, Otto Martinez, & Brandon Sheetz Lab preformed: 03/06/2023 & 03/13/2023 1 | P a g e
I. Abstract: In this 2-part experiment, the absorbance levels of samples varying in phosphate and chlorophyll concentrations were examined. The absorbance level of a substance is the amount of light the solution absorbs. The samples in this lab that contained a higher phosphate or chlorophyll concentration on average had a higher absorbance rate as well. The highest absorbance rates that were found were from the pond water and groundwater samples. The pond and groundwater samples also had the highest concentration of phosphate and absorbance level of the water sample set, which included groundwater, pond water, canal water, boat basin water, and marine salt water. II. Introduction: Phosphate is a key nutrient to algae. Phosphates typically follow a seasonal cycle that can range from high and low phosphate levels in many water sources due to water salinity and temperature. This phosphate cycle correlates directly with the growth rates of algae, as they tend to follow the same seasonal cycle. The amount of phosphate in a water sample can help to determine how much chlorophyll and algae are in the water. Chlorophyll is a major photosynthetic and can be found in almost all plants, for this experiment the plant that was focused on was algae. The mass of algae in a sample can be correlated directly with the overall chlorophyll concentration within a said sample, therefore the higher the mass of algae the higher the chlorophyll concentration will be. The chlorophyll concentration in water samples can be measured using a spectrometer because chlorophyll will absorb the light. As it is much easier for researchers to measure the amount of chlorophyll in a sample of water and then make an approximation on algae content 2 | P a g e
because of the direct correlation. The lab procedure that was done was a small-scale example of how researchers would perform this experiment in the field. III. Methods and Materials: In this laboratory experiment, three different sample sets were made. First deionized water, phosphate "stock" solution (60 μ moles/liter), and phosphate reagent were used to make different samples of varying phosphate concentrations ranging from 3 micromole/L to 12micromol/L. Next, four 100 ml volumetric flasks, 13 100 ml plastic bottles, disposable pipettes, a pipette bulb, a graduated cylinder, and water samples were collected from different environments (groundwater, pond water, canal water, boat basin water, and marine salt water.) The last set of samples was made using 25 mm 0.45 μm membrane filters, filter holders and flasks, forceps, centrifuge tubes with caps, test tube racks, acetone, and then the previously stated water samples that were collected from outside. All these different samples were then pipetted into cuvettes and examined in a spectrophotometer. Ultimately, this experiment was conducted in three sections, and in the first section samples of various concentrations were tested. First, the four standards at various concentrations were made by placing 5, 10, 15, and then 20mL of the stock solution into each of the respective 100mL volumetric flasks. After the stock solution was added to each volumetric flask, they were diluted using deionized water and were filled to the 100mL mark creating the concentrations of 3, 6, 9, and 12μm/L respectively. 10 mL of each diluted solution was then added to the plastic bottles. Three of each bottle were made. An extra bottle was filled with only deionized water to be used as the control. 1mL of the mixed reagent was then added to each bottle including the bottle of 3 | P a g e
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