Collect Water from Two Different Water Bodies Around You and Study Them for pH Clarity and Presence of any Living Organism
How is pH Important to Living Organisms Answer Key
The physical qualities of water include temperature, color, taste, odor, etc. these qualities are determined by touch, sight, smell, and taste. For example, we can check the temperature by touch, color, floating particles, turbidity and suspended solids by sight, and taste and odor by smell. Our goal here is to study different water bodies for pH, clarity and the presence of any living organisms. Water forms about 75 % of the earth’s surface. It is vital for all forms of life. Water is the habitat for many aquatic organisms. Here, we will focus on the study of the pH of different samples of water
In water, you will find many kinds of living organisms; some are visible to the naked eye while some may be microscopic. Sometimes you will also find suspended particles, a variety of plants and algae which have unique qualities to survive in water. Some conditions that control the quality of water are different types of plants, animals and their population, the turbidity of the water, and the pH levels of the water. Let us study an experiment by exploring different types of water bodies for pH, clarity, and presence of any living organisms.
Aim
To study and measure the pH level, clarity, presence of microbes, and other living organisms in two different water bodies.
Apparatus and Materials Required
Secchi’s Disk
Tape
Pins
Universal Indicator solution
Dropper
Tile
pH
Beaker
Test tube
Coverslips
Filter paper
glass slides
Needles
Compound microscope.
Procedure
To study pH levels of the two water bodies:
Take two different water samples from two different bodies in a clean test tube.
Label them as A and B.
Dip the pH stripes in both the test tubes, which have different water samples.
Keep the strips on the tile and let the strips dry.
Simultaneously, pH levels of the water samples can also be found through the Universal Indicator Solution or (UI solution).
With the help of a dropper, take five drops of UI solution in both A and B test tubes.
Note the change in color of both water samples in A and B, and compare them with the color chart to identify the pH level.
To study the clarity or turbidity of the water sample:
Move to the middle of a pond with the help of a boat.
Dip the Secchi’s disc into the water until the black and white segments get immersed.
Mark and label the length on the rope, where the disk is not visible with a pin as “A”.
Take the disc up, mark, and label the length of the rope where the disc becomes visible again as “B”.
Take a meter tape and measure the length of the Mark A to B.
By using the measurements, find the mean length of the rope by using the formula, X= (A+B)/2.
To study the presence of living organisms in the two water bodies:
Collect water samples from a pond and transfer them into the test tube.
Leave the sample water for a while until the sediments get settled at the bottom.
Take a drop of water from the test tube to the glass slide
On the slide, place a coverslip using a needle.
Using a compound microscope, observe the entire slide.
FAQs on Collect Water from Two Different Water Bodies Around You and Study Them for pH Clarity and Presence of any Living Organism
1. What is meant by the pH of water and why is it important to measure?
The pH of water is a measure of how acidic or alkaline it is. It's measured on a scale from 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Measuring pH is crucial because it affects the health of aquatic life. Most fish and plants thrive in a pH range of 6.5 to 9.0. Extreme pH levels can harm or even kill them.
2. What does the turbidity or clarity of a water sample tell us?
Turbidity refers to the cloudiness of water caused by suspended particles like silt, clay, algae, or other microorganisms. High turbidity can block sunlight from reaching aquatic plants, disrupt fish gills, and may indicate the presence of pollutants. Clear water generally has low turbidity.
3. What kinds of living organisms might be found in a drop of pond water?
A single drop of pond water can be teeming with microscopic life. When observed under a microscope, you might find:
- Algae: Tiny plant-like organisms, often green.
- Protozoa: Single-celled animals like Amoeba and Paramecium.
- Rotifers: Small multicellular animals with a wheel-like crown of cilia.
- Bacteria: The most numerous but smallest organisms.
4. How can you test the pH of a water sample for a school project?
A simple way to test the pH of a water sample is by using pH paper or a universal indicator solution. You dip the paper into the water or add a few drops of the indicator solution. The resulting colour change is then compared to a standard colour chart to determine the pH value.
5. Why would water from a stagnant pond and a flowing river have different properties?
A stagnant pond and a flowing river often have different properties due to water movement. A river's constant flow mixes oxygen into the water and carries away waste, often resulting in clearer water and a more stable pH. A pond has still water, which allows particles to settle and organic matter to decompose, potentially leading to higher turbidity and more varied pH levels.
6. If a water sample looks perfectly clear, does that mean it is pure and safe?
Not necessarily. While clear water has low turbidity, it can still contain dissolved chemicals, pollutants, bacteria, and viruses that are invisible to the naked eye. For example, chemicals from fertilisers can dissolve in water without making it cloudy. Therefore, clarity alone is not a reliable indicator of water purity.
7. How can human activities change the pH and clarity of a water body?
Human activities have a significant impact. Industrial waste and acid rain can lower the pH of water, making it dangerously acidic. Runoff from farms carrying fertilisers can cause algal blooms, which dramatically increase turbidity. Construction and deforestation can also lead to soil erosion, washing more sediment into rivers and making them cloudier.
8. What is the basic procedure to check for living organisms in a water sample?
To find living organisms, place a drop of the water sample on a clean glass slide. Gently place a coverslip over the drop to avoid air bubbles. Then, observe the slide under a compound microscope, starting with low power and then moving to high power to see the different types of microorganisms present.
