Water Quality and Pollution

Second Year - First Semester – 2020 -2021 -

Date 21/12/2020
Lecture - Three

Water Properties – Physical Properties

Total Solids : Total solids are dissolved solids plus suspended and settleable solids in water:
 W1 = weight of the dried sample + pan
W2 = initial weight of the pan + sample

Example (1) :
A 50 mL of water sample drawn on to an empty dry container whose Initial wt. found
to be 92.468g . After oven drying, the final wt. of container found to be 92.436g. Find
total solids in water in mg/L.

Solution:
Total Solids = = = 640 mg/L
Suspended Solids:-
Filter papers of pore size smaller than smallest suspended particle is used for filtration. Weight
of solids retained on filter paper are measure.

Suspended solids mg/L =

W1 = weight of the solids on the filter

W2 = weight of the filter
Example(2):
A 50 cc of water sample passed through empty dry filter paper the wt. of the solids on the filter
was found to be 0.015 g and of the filter is 0.0001 g . Find suspended solids in water in mg/L.

Solution:
Suspended Solids = =
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) : mg/L
The filter water will be put in an oven of 103 ▫ C

TDS (mg/L) =

W1 = initial weight of the pan + filtered water sample

W2 = weight of the dried sample + pan
Volatile solids are a substance that can easily transform from its solid phase to its
vapor phase without going through a liquid phase. Volatile solids normally represent
the amount of organic solids in water, and have great importance in water and
wastewater treatment.
Volatile Solids (mg/L) =

Non Volatile Solids (fixed solids) (mg/L) =

W1 = weight of total solids – after been dried to 103 ▫ C

W2 = weight of the solids after drying to 550 ▫ C
W3 = weight of empty pan

Example (3) : The volume of sample = 100 ml,

W1 = 98.484 g, W2 = 98.462 g , W3= 98.420g
Find the volatile and non volatile solid concentration in mg/L
Solution:

Volatile Solids (mg/L) = x 106 = 220 mg/L

Non Volatile Solids (fixed solids) (mg/L) = x 106 = 420 mg/L

Water Properties – Chemical Properties
1. pH
2. Acidity 8. Fluoride
9. Nitrogen Compound
3. Alkalinity 10. Iron and Magnesium
4. Hardness 11. Toxic chemicals
5. Chlorides 12. Heavy Metals
6. Sulphate
7. Dissolved Oxygen
1. pH :  is a measure of how acidic/basic water is. The range goes from 0 to 14, with 7
being neutral. pHs of less than 7 indicate acidity, whereas a pH of greater than 7
indicates a base. pH is really a measure of the relative amount of free hydrogen and
hydroxyl ions in the water.

• pH is a measure of potential of hydrogen ion concentration

H2O H + + OH - [ ionization]

ionization Constant k =

For pure water @ 4 ▫ C , H2O = 1, k = 1 x 10 -14 mol/L

= 10 -14 mol/L
Applying Log10 to both sides

Log10 = Log10 10 -14 = -14

Log10 + Log10 = 14

pH + pOH = 14

Whether its strong acid/base or weak acid/base, product of and is always constant (14).

Example (1) : If a sample of water has pH = 4.1 find

Solution :
- Log10 = 4.1

= 10 - 4.1 = 7.94 x 10 -5 mol/L

Example (2) : If a sample of Water has = 10 -8.25 mol/L find the pH of the water.

Solution :

p OH = - Log10 (-8.25) = 8.25

pH = 14 – 8.25 = 5.75

Example (3) : two samples A and B , if pH A = 4.4 and pH = B = 6.4 , Check by how
much the acidity of sample B is more than sample A ?

Solution :
= = 102 (by 100)
Mixing Water samples Having different pH

mixture =
= for sample one, = for sample two

Example (4) :
For water sample A the volume = 300 ml and pH = 7
For water sample B the volume = 700 ml and pH = 5
Find pH of the mixture.

Solution:
,

mixture = = 7.03 x 10 -6

pH mixture = - Log10 (7.03 x 10 -6 ) = 5.15

2. Acidity : Acidity is the ability of water to neutralize the base
Types :

(i) Mineral Acidity (strong acid)

Caused by minerals;

(ii) Carbonic acidity (weak acid)

Caused by CO2 ;
What are the bad effects on acid in water ?
- Pipe corrosion
- In water treatments, acid water is not required as it will
effect the coagulation proses.
- On construction material.
- It will effect the aquatic life of water bodies.
Acidity Calculation in Water and method of measurement

The acidity value is found by Titration Method, which by using a certain amount of an alkaline
to neutralize the acid. From this process the amount of acid will be found.

It is usually calculated as equivalent weight of CaCO3 :

Concentration of the acid , mg/L =

V = volume of the Titrant, mL
N = Normality of the Titrant
The equivalent weight of an element is equal to its atomic weight  divided by the valence it
assumes in compounds.
Example (1):
20 ML of (0.02N) NaOH solution is consumed in titrating 50 mL water
sample Find the acidity in water sample as mg/L of CaCO3.

Solution:
Concentration of the acid , mg/L =
N =0.02 [ will be given]
Equivalent weight of CaCO3 calculation
Form the periodic table atomic weight of Ca = 40, C =12, O =16
The atomic valence of CaCO3 = 2 , [ Ca +2 , CO3 = -2 ]
The equivalent weight = (40+12+ (16 x 3))/2 = 50

Concentration of the acid , mg/L = = 400 mg/L

 End of Lecture Three
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