Abstract

Turbidity is an important physical property of water. It is clarity of water in order to know what
types of materials are present in it. It is important to know what type of particles are in the
sample due to the containing bacterial or viral diseases. In this lab we measured the turbidity of
some samples to get an approximate value of the suspended solid that exist in these samples. A
Nephelometer was used which emits a strong beam of light to the sample that reflects from the
sample to the light sensor which receives the same or weaker intensity light depending on the
sample and relays the turbidity value in Nephelometer turbidity units (ntu).

Error Analysis

In any experiment, even if conducted with a high degree of accuracy, errors are present and
cannot be completely eliminated.

Several inaccuracies and mistakes may have occurred during the experiment due to some
human and instrumental errors.

- Human Errors

o Dilution was done by approximation

o The shaking of the sand solution might not have been consistent while the reading was
done.

o Lack of good rinsing of the vial that may have led to contamination between samples
leading faulty turbidity results.

o Inadequately while reading the values of turbidity may have happened.

o The air bubbles might not have been well removed.

o Lack of good cleaning of the vial that could have left traces of fingerprints or dust on the
nephelometer after its cleaning; that can refract light and affect the turbidity.

o Leaving the lid of the Nephelometric Turbidimeter partially open, penetration of light
through the lid could have happened if not very well closed.

- Instrumental Errors

o Inaccuracy of the reading if there were remaining air bubbles suspended at the top of
the solution.
o Inaccuracy of the reading if the vial was not properly cleaned.

Conclusion

To conclude, one can state that the smaller the size of the particle, the higher its surface
territory. As surface zone increments does as well turbidity. Suspended solids that reason the
dissipating of light don't settle yet colloidal solids like sand tend to settle when left undisturbed
in water. There are numerous approaches to gauge turbidity, some more precise than others. If
we somehow happened to rank them, at that point the spectrophotometer would be the most
exact pursued by the nephelometer and minimum precise technique would be the Jackson
flame. Color and suspended solids affect the turbidity of the solution since they change the
clarity of the liquid by absorbing and scattering light instead of enabling it to go in a straight line.

Appendix

1. Describe the experimental procedure.

The experimental procedure is described in the procedure and discussion parts.
2. Explain how bubbles, suspended solids, and color would affect results of a
turbidity determination.
Suspended solids, bubbles and colors of solutions can act as mirrors that redirect
incident light in other directions.
 Bubbles act as a medium changer in water: a light ray encounters a change of
mediums from a liquid to a gaseous one resulting in a change in the
performance of the light ray and thus affecting turbidity.

 Suspended solids in the solution act as obstacles in front of the light rays that
are penetrating the liquid. This may cause light rays to redirect in a different
direction and that depends on the dimensions of the particles (surface area) as
well the angle of reflection.

 Colors absorb light in varying ways. Light colors are the most likely to reflect
light rays appropriately and give accurate turbidity results. On the contrary,
 dark colors absorb the light and deflect it in their own way leading to a higher
turbidity value.

For instance, pure water is transparent and colorless which allows light rays to pass
through the solution. Particles in water (suspended solids) and bubbles absorb light
energy and stops it from penetrating as deeply as in colorless water. In addition,
because of the fact that heavier particles settle quickly and do not contribute to a
turbidity reading, a correlation between turbidity and total suspended solids (TSS) is
somewhat unique for each location or situation. Note that a water sample is
considered potable if its turbidity ranges between 0 and 1 NTU.
3. Discuss how a spectrophotometer would compare with Jackson turbidmeter and
a nephelometer for turbidity determination.
A spectrophotometer is used to compare the intensity of a spectrum (light ray passing
a solution) to the intensity of a standard known light. A high ratio shows a highly
turbid liquid.
Jackson method consists of placing a candle at the bottom of a tube where light can
only pass through. Water is added until the light disappears. It is not an efficient
method and depends on the sight ability of the person. (JTU)
The nephelometer is an instrument used also to measure the intensity of the light
passing through a solution. The instrument catches the light and transform to a
number defined in NTU.
The Jackson method seems the oldest, unused and inaccurate method to measure the
turbidity and has lots of approximations. The other methods are accurate and the
choice could be made depending on the location of the experiment.