Research Question

What is the amount of oxygen dissolved in distilled water in ppm?

1. Introduction
Biological oxygen demand (BOD) refers to the amount of oxygen consumed by microorganisms like
bacteria when they decompose organic matter under the presence of oxygen. A high BOD indicates a
low dissolved oxygen level as large amounts of organic waste are present in water. A low BOD
indicates a high level of dissolved oxygen and a low level of pollution in the aquatic system.

In this investigation, the Winkler method will be used to find the amount of dissolved oxygen in
distilled water. The Winkler method is a titration technique used to determine the biological oxygen
demand in freshwater systems such as lakes, ponds, and rivers. It involves a series of redox reactions
that fix the dissolved oxygen and form an acidic compound. The water sample undergoes titration and
changes colour when a neutralising compound which is sodium thiosulfate in this experiment. The
point of colour change is referred to as the endpoint, and it coincides with the concentration of
dissolved oxygen in the water sample.

Balanced chemical equations

2+ −
Step 1: 2𝑀𝑛 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝑂2(𝑔) + 4𝑂𝐻 (𝑎𝑞) → 2𝑀𝑛𝑂2(𝑠) + 2𝐻2𝑂(𝑙)
− + 2+
Step 2: 𝑀𝑛𝑂2(𝑠) + 2𝐼 (𝑎𝑞) + 4𝐻 (𝑎𝑞) → 𝑀𝑛 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐼2(𝑎𝑞) + 2𝐻2𝑂(𝑙)
2− − 2−
Step 3: 2𝑆2𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝐼2(𝑎𝑞) → 2𝐼 (𝑎𝑞) + 𝑆4𝑂6 (𝑎𝑞)

2. Methodology
Risk Assessment
Chemical hazards

Hazardous substance Nature od hazard Precautions

Sulfuric acid Can skin and eye irritations
and burns.
Concentrated solutions can
lead to blindness.
Exposures may cause a
build-up of fluid in the lungs.
Use the smallest volume and
the lowest concentration
possible.
Ask the instructor to add
concentrated solutions.

MnSO4 solution May be harmful if inhaled Wear gloves and lab coats.
 Potassium Iodide May cause irritation of the Tie hair to prevent contact with
digestive tract. chemicals.

Non-chemical hazards

Hazardous substance Precautions

Glassware (beaker, burette, graduated cylinder,
volumetric flask)
transferring liquids to the beaker(splashing or
spoiling hazardous liquids)
- Wear gloves and lab coats
- Use a plastic pipette or dropping bottles
- Tie hair
- Put glassware on the middle of the table
to prevent them from breaking and
causing hazardous chemicals to spill
out.

Equipment with uncertainties

● Plastic pipette (3±0.25ml)
● 100ml graduated cylinder (±0.05ml)
● 250ml volumetric flask
● 100ml volumetric flask (±0.1ml)
● 250ml beaker
● Waste beaker
● Burette (±0.08ml)
● Burette holder
● Conical flask
● Digital balance (±0.01g)
● Stirring rod
● Plastic weighing boat
● Funnel
● Distilled water
● Clamp stand
● Sodium thiosulfate crystals
● Starch solution
● Solution A (MnSO 4 solution)
● Solution B (alkaline KI solution)
● Sulfuric acid
Procedure
Preparation of 0.02M standard sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3) solution
1. Measure 90ml of distilled water with a 100ml graduated cylinder and then add it to a 250ml
beaker.
2. Measure 0.5g of sodium thiosulphate using a digital balance and a plastic weighing boat.
3. Add the weighted sodium thiosulphate into the beaker and mix it using a glass rod until the
crystals are completely dissolved.
4. Transfer the solution into a 100ml volumetric flask.
5. Add about 5ml distilled water to the beaker, swirl gently, and transfer into the volumetric
flask.
6. Add distilled water using a plastic pipette until the meniscus of the solution touches the line
on the neck of the flask.

Preparation for titration

1. Mount the burette onto the burette clamp.
2. Put a waste beaker (50ml) below the burette.
3. Use a funnel to fill the burette with sodium thiosulfate solution up to the 1ml mark.
4. Let the solution settle for about 1 minute
5. Turn the stopcock slowly and check if the burette and the stopcock are working well. After a
few drops, completely close the stopcock completely and record the initial reading on the
burette.

Preparation of water sample

1. Fill up a 250ml beaker with distilled water and slowly transfer it to a 250ml volumetric flask
until the water level is 1cm from the bottom of the stopper of the flask.
2. Use a plastic pipette to add 1ml of solution A (MnSO 4 solution) to the distilled water in the
volumetric flask. Close the stopper and invert the flask 5~7 times.
3. Add 1ml of solution B (alkaline KI solution) using another pipette. Close the stopper and
invert the flask 5~7 times until the precipitate is distributed uniformly.
4. Add 1ml of concentrated sulfuric acid and close the flask with the stopper. Invert the flask
until all the precipitate disappears.
5. Let the prepared distilled water sample stand for 5 minutes.

Titration
1. Pour 100ml of the water sample into a 100ml graduated cylinder.
2. Transfer the water sample from the graduated cylinder to a 250ml conical flask.
 3. Add 1ml of starch solution and wait until the solution turns dark blue. Place the conical flask
below the burette.
4. Turn the stopcock slowly to allow the sodium thiosulfate solution to fall drop by drop. When
the colour of the water sample changes from dark blue to colourless, immediately close the
stopcock and record the final burette reading.
5. Repeat the titration once more.

3. Data Analysis
Data table

Trial 1 Trial 2 Average

Initial buret reading 0.95 1.00

(±0.08ml)
N/A
Final buret reading 6.15 5.90
(±0.08ml)

Volume of thiosulfate 5.20 4.90 5.05

solution used
(±0.16ml)

Uncertainty Calculations

Steps Apparatus Value of measurement & Percentage

absolute uncertainty uncertainty(%)

Preparation of 100ml Volumetric flask 100±0.1 0.1

standard 0.02M sodium
Digital balance 0.5±0.01 2
thiosulphate solution

Loading burette Burette reading 0.95±0.08 8.42

Preparation of distilled Plastic pipette (1±0.25)×4 25

water sample
Graduated cylinder 100±0.05 0.05

Calculations
Average volume of sodium thiosulfate solution used in the titration
5.20+4.90
= 2
= 5. 05 ± 0. 16 = 5. 05𝑚𝑙 ± 3. 17%
Number of moles of sodium thiosulfate in the solution
= ( 0. 00505 ± 3. 17%) × (0. 02 ± 2. 1%) = 0. 000101𝑚𝑜𝑙 ± 5. 27%

𝑁𝑎2𝑆2𝑂3 (𝑎𝑞) + 5𝐻2𝑂(𝑙) → 𝑁𝑎2𝑆2𝑂3 · 5𝐻2𝑂(𝑎𝑞)

Mole ratio of oxygen gas present in the distilled water and the thiosulfate ions = 1:1

Number of moles of oxygen gas dissolved in distilled water = 0. 000101𝑚𝑜𝑙 ± 5. 27%

Concentration of dissolved oxygen gas in the distilled water
−3
= 0. 000101 ± 5. 27% ÷ 0. 25 = 0. 000404𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑑𝑚 ± 5. 27%

Concentration of dissolved oxygen gas in the distilled water

= 0. 000404 × 18. 02 × 1000 = 7. 28 𝑝𝑝𝑚 ± 5. 27% = 7. 28 ± 0. 384𝑝𝑝𝑚

4. Conclusion
Through our experiment, we can conclude that the concentration of dissolved oxygen in the distilled
water is 7.28ppm with an absolute uncertainty of 0.384ppm. The results show that distilled water has
enough dissolved oxygen to support fish life according to the general rubric to determine the water
cleanliness and quality (Fig 1). Despite the high oxygen level, distilled water is unable to support fish
life because it lacks ions such as Na, K, Cl, Ca, and Mg. However, since the concentration of
dissolved oxygen is dependent on temperature, repeating the experiment using the same water sample
will hold different amounts of oxygen at temperatures other than room temperature.

5. Evaluation
The results are highly precise with a percentage uncertainty of 5.27% and an absolute uncertainty of
0.384 ppm. We followed the procedures in correct order which allowed us to obtain this low
uncertainty value. In addition, we followed the safety precautions carefully so there were no injuries
from hazardous chemicals and glassware.

However, we only had time for one trial and had to share data with the other group. Performing three
trials and finding the average value will improve the accuracy and reliability of the results. Also, the
calculated mass of sodium thiosulfate crystals to prepare 0.02M solution was 0.496 grams, but the
digital balance could only measure up to two decimal places, so 0.5g of sodium thiosulfate was used.
To improve this experiment, a digital balance that shows the mass to three decimal places could be
used. To further develop this investigation, water samples from different freshwater systems could be
collected and their concentration of dissolved oxygen could be compared.