Rider Schwenk

Liam Barney
Joshua Atkins
Period 2
2-29-16
Desalination Lab Write-Up

Purpose: The purpose of this lab was to test the ability of evaporation and condensation to
purify water of pollutants such as fecal coliform and Epsom salts. We investigated if this process
works on fresh water that is polluted.

Hypothesis: The contents of the heated flask will contain less salt compared to the colder non-
heated flask. After this distillation process, There should be equal amount of water to what we
started as. However, due to human error, there could be slightly less water. The freshwater will
still contain the fecal matter. And the amount of water will be different due to evaporation. The
heated flask will have less pollutants as opposed to the unheated flask.

Materials:
*250ml Erlenmeyer flask x2
*Double hole stopper
*90 degree stopper x2
*Rubber Tubing
*600ml beaker
*100ml cylinder
*Saltwater solution
*Bunsen burner
*Safety goggles

Procedure:
1) Use graduated cylinder to measure out 100ml of the saltwater solution and pour it
into the 250ml Erlenmeyer flask.
2) Put some ice into the 600ml flask about 1-2m deep until the beaker surrounds the
125 flask inside around 75% full.
3) Set up the distillation process as shown in figure one, and connect the tubes.
4) Turn on the hot plate, and heat the saltwater.
5) Vaporize half of the liquid in the 250 ml flask. Not observations.
6) Get the mass of the water that was collected in the 125ml flask AFTER you turn
off the hotplate.
 Part II.
1) Get the sample
of the polluted freshwater and do a fecal coliform test to see if it contains the bacteria before you
begin.
2) Repeat steps 1-6 from part 1, and substitute the polluted water for the salt water.
Diagram:

Data/Observations:

Sample Mass Mass Fecal Fecal Observations Before/After

Before After Coliform Coliform
P.2/P.3 P.2/P.3
Before After

Salt water 279.81g 123.49g

Polluted 331.7g 277.9g

Water

Calculations:
Saltwater: 123.49grams-279.81g/279.81g *100%=5% error
 Polluted water: 277.90g-331.70g/331.70g*100%=16% error

Conclusion:
As stated, the distilled water will not fecal coliform, and lots of crystallized salts. We were
correct, as in process 1 we found crystals of salt forming 48 hours after the start of the lab. We
accept processes one there was no salt left after the desalinization process and we did have less
water due to evaporation. We reject the second part of our hypothesis there was no fecal matter
left in the polluted flask after the desalinization process. There was less water due to evaporation
but the unheated flask contained the clean water apposed to the heated flask that did contain fecal
matter still. As shown by the data tables, there is sufficient evidence to provide support showing
the mass of salt increased in the cooler flask, and little-to-no salt in the heated flask.
Furthermore, as of today, there is no evidence of fecal coliform in the polluted water, rejecting
the second-half of our hypothesis. Our variables included the mass of the water, the mass of salt,
and the lack of fecal coliform. This lab relates to real situations such as desalinization plants
which turn salt water into fresh drinkable water for the consumption of the populace since many
of these plants potentially use a very similar process.

Lab Questions:
1) Both of the condensed liquids were virtually indistinguishable from one another.
2) To test if the water is potable a possible test it a series rather than one it would include:
turbidity, nitrates, dissolved oxygen, phosphorus, and fecal coliform.
3) Some advantages would include more drinking water for people to drink. A disadvantage
would include fuel costs to properly desalinated it.
4) Boiling the water took all the clean steam and carried it into the cooled flask leaving the
pollutants and salt behind. They were the same process and same set up.
5) We could make it more efficient by letting it evaporate and coming up with a way to capture
the evaporated water.