I have read and understand the how to, use the materials, use any needed equipment, and

follow all procedures listed in

this lab. I have been made aware of the specific risks involved with this lab.
Student Name:__________________________ Student Signature:___________________________
Parent Name:___________________________ Parent Signature:____________________________
Teacher Approval:_______
Introduction to Water Measurement: Water Probe Lab Booklet.
Learning Objectives:

Many of the characteristics of water can be measured

Water quality determines what living organisms, if any, live in a particular habitat
Data can be represented in a variety of ways
While data can be measured, statistical and arithmetical processes should be made to correct, or combine
information.

Preamble:
This is your first pre-lab assignment. Below you will find all of the information you need to know about what we will be
doing in the lab, and the science that is behind it. It is important to read all of this information and answer questions (#112) to demonstrate your understanding of the material. If you are unclear about what to do after reading and answering
the questions, DO NOT PROCEED INTO THE LAB without speaking with your instructor first. SAFETY is our primary
goal and we can accomplish this by having a firm understanding of what we are doing.
Please read this entire lab write up and answer all of the pre-lab questions. You will find a list of data tables that you will
need to set up closer to the back of this booklet, this space is for you identify what types of graphs and tables that will be
required to record the data of your lab activities in your lab report. The post lab questions (#13 22) will be due two
weeks after our lab day and can be worked on if you complete your lab work early.

Background Information:
Water quality can be measured in a variety of ways including pH, Dissolved Oxygen, Temperature, Turbidity, Salinity, and
much more. While every species of life depends on water to survive, different life forms require different characteristics of
water; for example, many tropical fish thrive in water with a high concentration of dissolved oxygen, while anaerobic
bacteria would perish in these conditions. It is important for us to understand these different characteristics of water so
we may better preserve and protect our environment and continue to live healthy lives.
Dissolved Oxygen the relative amount of oxygen dissolved or mixed in water or another liquid medium. Oxygen
exists in media in the form of micro or macroscopic bubbles.
pH a measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution. The scale ranges from
Temperature the degree or intensity of heat present in a substance or object as based on a comparative scale such
as Celsius, Fahrenheit or Kelvin
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Turbidity a measurement of suspended particulate matter in a solution due to movement or agitation of that solution.
Salinity a measurement of suspended salt molecules in water because salt forms an ionic solution and will conduct
electricity, in this lab, we will measure the ionic concentration of each solution by measuring something called Total
Dissolved Solids or TDS.
We will have an opportunity to measure and manipulate these factors in the lab using our water probes. During our lab
activities, we will have limited time to complete all of our tasks, so it is VERY important that you stay on task, and give
everybody a chance to observe and work. Teamwork, safety, and focus are the keys to success in this activity.
For added success in the lab, it will be important for you to have your data table set up BEFORE setting foot in
the lab.
Materials:
Before we manipulate the water in our lab, we first have to measure it. Here are all of the materials that you will need:
Table supplies will include:
A.
4 250 mL glass beakers
B.
4 50 mL glass beaker
C.
3 pairs of protective eyewear
D.
3 Lab aprons
E.
1 Labeled placemat
F.
1 Beaker with distilled water
G.
1 Probe Handheld Units
Shared materials will include:
H.
Conductivity Sensor Probe
I.
pH Sensor Probe
J.
Temperature Sensor Probe
K.
Dissolved Oxygen Sensor Probe
L.
Stock Salt Solution
a. 2 labeled graduated cylinders for measuring
M.
Stock Heated Water Solution
WARNING: THIS SOLUTION WILL BE HOT!
a. 2 labeled graduated cylinders for measuring
N.
Stock HCl (Hydrochloric Acid)
WARNING: THIS SOLUTION IS CORROSIVE!
a. 2 labeled graduated cylinders for measuring
Materials you provide will include:
O.
A pencil (not pen) & Eraser
P.
Your pre-lab assignment
Q.
Your lab book
R.
Glasses if you need them (no contact lenses allowed)
All of the materials will essentially be set up for you. You will have empty beakers at your station, along with all of the
protective equipment needed to keep you safe. Many different groups will share our items on the shared materials list
above. It is important that you wait patiently for your turn before you use our shared materials. Ensure to READ ALL
LABELS TWICE BEFORE POURING.

Procedure:
All of your observations can be recorded in your lab book.
1. From the beaker containing distilled water at your station, measure (using the correctly labeled graduated cylinder)
and pour 20 mL of distilled water into each of your 4 250 mL beakers. Place each beaker on your placemat in the
corresponding spot.
Now that you have all of your chemicals on your placemat, you know what they are. Only move one at a
time so you dont mix them up. They look very similar, but react very differently so it is important to keep
them organized
For steps 2-5, you may do these in any order. As equipment will be shared amongst the class, please choose
which steps to complete based on what is available. Quick and efficient work must be done in the lab to ensure that
each group has an adequate access to each type of data probe.
2. BEAKER 1:
a. Find the Temperature data probe from the instructors table.
i. Using protective gloves, carefully measure 20 mL of hot water from the hot plate.
ii. Measure the initial temperature of beaker 1 (wait for at least 20 seconds before recording your
information)
iii. Add 20 mL of hot water to beaker 1
iv. Measure the temperature again of beaker 1 (wait for at least 20 seconds before recording your
information)
3. BEAKER 2:
a. Find the Conductivity data probe from the instructors table.
i. Measure 20 mL of salt-water from the stock solution.
ii. Measure the initial salinity (measured in TDS) of beaker 2 (wait for at least 20 seconds before recording
your information)
iii. Add 20 mL of salt-water to beaker 2
iv. Measure the salinity (TDS) again of beaker 2 (wait for at least 20 seconds before recording your
information)
4. BEAKER 3:
a. Find the pH data probe from the instructors table.
i. Using protective gloves, carefully measure 20 mL of HCl from the stock solution.
ii. Measure the initial pH of beaker 3 (wait for at least 20 seconds before recording your information)
iii. Add 20 mL of HCl to beaker 3
iv. Measure the pH again of beaker 3 (wait for at least 20 seconds before recording your information)
5. BEAKER 4:
a. Find the Dissolved Oxygen probe from the instructors table.
i. Measure the dissolved oxygen of beaker 4 (wait for at least 20 seconds before recording your
information)
ii. Using a plastic pipet, squeeze air into the water sample
iii. Measure the Dissolved Oxygen again with beaker 4 (wait for at least 20 seconds before recording your
information)

After reading the procedure, use this space to draw out what you think your lab station set up will look like:

Pre-lab Assignment:
1. List 3 measurable characteristics of water
_________________
_________________
_________________

2. List 3 measurable characteristics that we know about distilled water:

_________________
_________________
_________________
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3. Define the following words

Corrosive:________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
pH:_____________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Dissolved Oxygen: _________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Water Quality: _____________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Conductivity:______________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
TDS (Total Dissolved Solids): _________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Meniscus:_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
4. What will you do if you are missing some of the materials at your table?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
5. What will you do if you dont know what to do next?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What materials will you bring to the lab?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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7. Have you read, understood, and agree to follow our Science Lab Safety Contract? __________
8. Will you use your best judgment and common sense in making decisions that will promote lab safety? __________
9. When you get to your station and you do a quick check of what is there, how many different items should you find in your
workspace? ____________ What are they?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
10. Observations and measurements are done both before and after adding anything to the water of the beakers 1-4, why is
this done?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
11. To demonstrate that you have read and understand the procedure for this activity, please restate it in your own words
(step by step of what you will do when you are in the lab):
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

12. Write a list of words that you have read but dont yet understand. At this stage of our learning, it is ok that some of this is
beyond what we know or need to know at this level. These words will be defined in class, and you can write that definition
here.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

Stop. This is the end of the pre-lab activity. You MUST continue to read, but do not answer the questions below until you are
doing the lab activity.
To ensure that all of our data tables are correctly done so we can collect our information as quickly and efficiently as
possible, it will be important for you to plan this out ahead of time.
You will need to record the following information:
Initial Reading and Second Reading of Temperature
Initial Reading and Second Reading of pH
Initial Reading and Second Reading of Salinity
Initial Reading and Second Reading of Dissolved O2
Data Table for Temperature over 10 seconds
Data Table for pH over 10 seconds
Data Table for Salinity over 10 seconds
Data Table for Dissolved O2 over 10 seconds

D. Post Lab Questions:

Congratulations! You have completed your first lab experience in grade 8!
Now take a moment and clean up your workspace. ALL chemicals and solutions can be poured down the drain while
keeping the tap water running. Rinse, wash and dry all of your beakers and place them on the drying racks. Work as a
team to get this clean up work done faster. Once done, inform Mr. C and proceed to the classroom to complete your post
lab activities and questions.
13. Probes like these are used by real scientists all the time, what type of scientists do you think would use tools like these
probes in their everyday work? What would they be studying and why do you think it is important for them to gather
information like this?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

14. What other factors or variables do you think could have affected the data probe results?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
15. Which measurement do you think is most valuable for us to know about a body of water, why?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
16. What was the most amazing thing that you saw in the lab in relation to your experiment?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
17. What could be changed to make this a better experience for next year?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
18. Did you show appropriate lab behaviour? _____________
19. Who was in your group?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
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20. Did they help with all aspects of the lab, including clean up?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
21. What are 3 things that you have learned about light in all of our lab activities (pre lab, lab time, post lab)?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
22. What are 2 questions that you have about light that you hope will be answered during our unit?
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________________

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