Abstract

The experiment was done to determine the safety of two water sample of an
unknown source as a drinking water. By using ICP (Inductively Coupled
Plasma), the concentration of metals in the water sample is determined. The
results obtained are then compared with the World Health Organization
(WHO) and USEPA to decide whether the water sources are safe to be
consumed.

Introduction
ICP or Inductively Coupled Plasma is used in detecting metals in waste and
also drinking water. The obvious objective of this experiment is to determine
whether the selected water samples are safe to be consumed. ICP will detect
if there were any trace of heavy metals in the samples.
By doing a comparison with the level of heavy metals allowed in drinking
water stipulated by WHO, the water samples tested in this experiment can
be concluded as safe or not.

Theory
ICP will analyze the composition of the samples. It is composed of two parts
which are the ICP and the optical spectrophotometer. The ICP itself consists
of three quartz glass tubes and a coil of radio frequency generator. Gold (Ar)
is used in this system to create plasma.
The plasma is created by inelastic collisions of charged Ar and neutral Ar
particles. Atomized aqueous sample delivered by peristaltic pump is
introduced directly to plasma flame. The sample will then collide with
electrons and other charged particles in the plasma producing charged ions.
The molecules break into their constituent elemental parts, losing and
gaining electrons in the plasma thus resulting in characteristics wavelengths
of different elements involved. The intensity of emission will indicate the
concentration of the element in the sample.
Based on the concentration of elements found in the sample, we can
determine the safety of the water source by comparing the concentration
with WHO data.
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Procedures

1. 200 ppm of

ZnCl 2

was being measured and poured into a volumetric

flask and 100 ml of distilled water was added into the flask. Mass of
ZnCl 2
used was 42 mg.
2. Another 50 ml of distilled water was measured and poured into the
beaker and the beaker was marked as blank sample. It contains 0
ZnCl 2 .
ppm of
3. 25 ppm of

ZnCl 2

was measured and poured into another volumetric

flask and distilled water was added into the flask until it reached 50 ml.
4. The solution from the flask was transferred into a beaker and labeled.
5. Steps 3 and 4 were repeated for 50 ppm and 100 ppm concentration of
ZnCl 2 .
6. 50 ml of water samples labeled A and B were measured and poured
into two different beakers.
7. All the solutions in the beakers were transferred into sample bottles.
These bottles were inserted into the ICPs sample slots in the order of
blank, 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 100 ppm, 200 ppm, sample A and sample B.
8. The element of Zn was selected from the periodic table in the
computer as it was the element trying to be detected.
9. The names for the samples were set as blank, 25 ppm, 50 ppm, 100
ppm, 200 ppm, sample A and sample B. The settings were saved.
10.
The ICP machine tested all the samples and the result obtained
was analysed.

Results
Element
Blank
25 ppm solution
50 ppm solution
100 ppm solution
200 ppm solution
Sample A
Sample B

Intensity average
(Cts/S)
110.0
188200.0
344200.0
498600.0
649400.0
682100.0
998.7

Standard
Deviation
8.8
1126
1296
1004
1264
3125
271.3

% RSD
7.958
0.5980
0.3764
0.2013
0.1946
0.4582
27.17

700000
f(x) = 2455.23x + 189921.74

600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
0

50

100

150

Figure 1 : Calibration Curve

3

200

250

y axis : intensity average (Cts/S)

x axis : concentration (ppm)

Calculations
From the graph, equation of the linear:
y = 2455x + 18992 Equation 1
Sample A
Intensity average = 682100.0 Cts/S y
Substitute y into equation 1;
682100 = 2455x + 18992
x = 270.11 ppm
Sample B
Intensity average = 998.7 Cts/S y
Substitute y into equation 1;
998.7 = 2455x + 18992
x = -7.33 ppm

Calculations for stock solution;

To prepare stock solutions for 25 ppm, 50ppm, 100ppm and 200ppm, 42
ZnCl 2
mg/L of
.
42 mg/L = 42 ppm.

M 1V 1 =

M 2V 2

Where;
M 1 = 42 ppm ,
M 1V 1 =
V1

V1 = ? ,

M2

= 25 ppm ,

V2

= 6.25 ml

M 2V 2

( 25 ) (6.25)
(42)

V 1 = 3.72 ml

M 1( ppm)
42
42
42
42

V 1 (ml)

M 2( ppm)

3.72
14.88
59.52
476.19

25
50
100
200

Distilled water is used to dilute the mixture.

V 2 (ml)
6.25
12.5
25
100

Discussions
A graph of intensity average (Cts/S) versus concentration (ppm) is plotted to
form a linear graph. From the graph, it was found that, when the
concentration of Zn increases, the intensity average also increases. The
equation of the straight line found was:
y = 2455x + 18992
From the equation of the straight line, the concentration of

Zn found in

both sample A and B was calculated. It was found that the concentration of
Zn in sample A is 270.11 ppm and -7.33 for sample B.
These results are then compared to WHOs standard drinking water quality.
The safe amount of Zn in drinking water stated on the standard is 3 mg/L
which is 3 ppm. Sample A contains 270.11 ppm

Zn , which makes it not

safe to be consumed. Furthermore, the intensity average of sample A is

larger than 200 ppm solution, making the concentration of Zn in sample A
higher. In the data printed out, the concentration of Zn in solution A is 60.10
ppm, which is very high. Other elements found in the sample are Calcium
and Vanadium though the concentrations are very small.

Zn

For sample B, it contains -7.33 ppm of

according to the equation of the

linear graph. The concentration of Zn is very low in sample B. From the data
collected, the concentration of Zn found was 0.0749 ppm which is very low
compared to 3 ppm which is the maximum concentration of Zn in drinking
water. The concentration of Cobalt in sample B is 245.70 ppm which is very
high. Sample B is not safe to be consumed due to the high concentration of
Cobalt.
Failure in determining the concentration is due to some error that may
ZnCl 2
happen during the experiment day. The mass of
used in this
experiment was 42 mg. When stock solution is being prepared, the mass of
ZnCl 2
must be measured correctly in order to get more accurate result.
Another error that could occur is when measuring the distilled water. The
amount of distilled water added to produce the stock solutions must be
measured accurately and parallax error should be avoided.

Conclusions
ICP was used to detect any trace of metals in the water samples being tested
which were sample A and sample B. In this experiment, it was found that
sample A contains a large amount of Zn while sample B contains very low or
no trace of Zinc element.
By using the equation of the straight line, in sample A, there is 270.11 ppm
of Zn while from the data collected, the concentration of Zn is 60.10 ppm. In
sample B, -7.33 ppm was found using the equation while 0.0749 ppm of Zn
stated in the data collected but a high concentration of Cobalt found is very
high which is 245.70 ppm.
It can be concluded that, sample B is not safe to be consumed because its
concentration of Zn is lower than 3 ppm as stated in WHO but the

concentration of cobalt found is very high, while sample A is not safe to be

consumed due to the high concentration of Zn.

Recommendations
1. The mass of

ZnCl 2

must be measured correctly in order to get

accurate result.
2. The dilution process has to be calculated and measured correctly so
that the concentrations of the stock solutions are more accurate.
3. Errors such as parallax error must be avoided during the process of
measurements.
4. The labeled on the volumetric flasks and beakers must be done
correctly to avoid any confusion.
5. Data collected from the computer must be analyzed thoroughly and
information should not be missed.

References and Appendice

Element/
substance

Symbol/
formula

Aluminium

Al

Ammonia

NH4

Normally found Health based

in fresh
guideline by
water/surface the WHO
water/ground
water
0,2 mg/l
< 0,2 mg/l (up
to 0,3 mg/l in
anaerobic

No guideline

waters)
Antimony

Sb

Arsenic

As

< 4 g/l

0.005 mg/l
0,01 mg/l

Asbestos

No guideline

Barium

Ba

0,3 mg/l

Berillium

Be

< 1 g/l

No guideline

Boron

< 1 mg/l

0,3 mg/l

Cadmium

Cd

< 1 g/l

0,003 mg/l

Chloride

Cl

Chromium

Cr+3, Cr+6

250 mg/l
< 2 g/l

Colour

0,05 mg/l
Not mentioned

Copper

Cu

2 mg/l

Cyanide

CN-

0,07 mg/l

Dissolvedoxygen O2

No guideline

Fluoride

< 1,5 mg/l (up

to 10)

Hardness

mg/lCaCO3

No guideline

Hydrogen
sulfide

H2S

No guideline

Iron

Fe

Lead

Pb

0,01 mg/l

Manganese

Mn

0,5 mg/l

Mercury

Hg

< 0,5 g/l

0,001 mg/l

Molybdenum

Mb

< 0,01 mg/l

0,07 mg/l

0,5 - 50 mg/l

1,5 mg/l

No guideline

Nickel

Ni

Nitrate and
nitrite

NO3, NO2

< 0,02 mg/l

0,02 mg/l
50 mg/l total
nitrogen

Turbidity

Not mentioned

pH

No guideline

Selenium

Se

< < 0,01 mg/l

0,01 mg/l

Silver

Ag

5 50 g/l

No guideline

Sodium

Na

< 20 mg/l

200 mg/l

Sulfate

SO4

500 mg/l

Inorganic tin

Sn

No guideline

TDS

No guideline

Uranium

1,4 mg/l

Zinc

Zn

3 mg/l

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