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Investigating The Ph Of Water Sources Essay

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Week 2 started by determining the pH of 8 water sources. The pH of the various water sources are displayed in Table 2 as follows: rain water at 5.58, water with atmospheric levels of CO2 at 6.40, the Jordan river at 6.60, the Clear creek at 7.20, Lake Monroe at 7.74, water saturated with CaCO3 at 9.45, and water saturated with CO2 at 4.10.

Identity of Sample pH
Rain water 5.58
Water with atm. Levels of CO2 6.40
Jordan river 6.60
Clear creek 7.20
Griffey Lake 7.49
Saturated with CaCO3 9.45
Saturated with CO2 4.10
Table 2: Record pH of water Samples

After the pH of each water samples were measured and recorded, the standardized HCl solution was used to determine the buffer capacity of the water saturated with CaCO3 and water saturated with CO2. Below, figures 1 and 2 display the titration curves of the two samples using pH vs. volume of HCl added.

Figure 1: pH vs. HCl Volume of CaCO3 saturated water

Figure 2: pH vs. HCl volume of CO2 saturated water From the titration curves displayed in figures 1 & 2, the buffer capacity can be calculate, which expresses how much HCl to bring 1 L of water to a pH of 4. In the case of the CO2 saturated water, we will calculate the buffer capacity to a pH of 3. To calculate buffer capacity, the following equation is used:

mL HCl titrated * 1L/1000 mL * mol. Of standardized HCl/1L * 1/.10L sample * 1000mmol/1 mol = mmol HCl/L

Identity of Sample Mmol HCl/L
CaCO3 saturated water .8891
CO2 saturated water ..9937
Table 3: Buffer

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