Foul Water Lab Report

Puritans of Water

6/18/13

Juliet, Rio, Nora

Dr. Forman

Purpose: To purify a sample of foul water, producing clean enough water where one could wash his or her hands.

Background/Significance: The purification process teaches us how to use our knowledge in the real world in order to obtain clean water.

Abstract: In this experiment, we not only learned how to purify foul water, but we also mastered very important life skills. We learned the intense difficulties that people go through in order to obtain clean water, and yet sometimes we take washing our hands or taking a sip of water for granted. Now, we know that transforming foul water into fresh water is a process that takes much time and many different procedures (oil-water separation, sand filtration, and charcoal adsorption and filtration), but can be accomplished with effort and determination.

Procedure:

• Prepare a data table
• Using a clean beaker, obtain approximately 100 mL of foul water
• Describe the appearance, color, clarity, and odor of the original sample

• Oil-water separation
• Using a clean, dry pipet, carefully remove the upper liquid layer (oil) and place it in a clean, dry test tube
• Add several drops of distilled water to the oil placed in the test tube 
• Find the liquid sample's volume remaining in the graduated cylinder
• Dispose of the liquid in the test tube as directed
• Sand filtration
• Poke holes in the bottom of a disposable cup
• Add moistened gravel and sand layers to the cup
• Pour the sample to be filtered into the cup and catch the filtrate in the beaker as it pours through

• Dispose of the used sand and gravel
• Observe properties of the filtered water sample and measure its volume
• Charcoal adsorption and filtration
• Fold a piece of filter paper and place it in the funnel
• Place the funnel in a clay triangle and lower the ring
• Place one level teaspoon of charcoal in a 125 mL or 150 mL flask
• Pour the water sample into the flask and swirl the flask vigorously
• Pour the liquid through the filter paper

• When you are satisfied with the appearance and odor of theater sample, pour the filtered water into a graduated cylinder
• Record the final volume and properties of your purified sample

Results: After using many different methods in an attempt to purify the foul water, our procedures turned out to be a success. The most important step, charcoal adsorption and filtration, cleared up the water, removing the repulsive stench and unappealing odor.

	Volume (mL)	Color	Clarity	Odor	Presence of Oil	Presence of Solids
Before treatment	100	Brown	No	Onion/sweat	On top	On bottom
After oil-water separation	85	Brown	No	Onion/sweat	None	On bottom
After sand filtration	59	Yellow	No	Dirt	On top	None
After charcoal adsorption and filtration	68	Clear	Yes	None	None	None

• In the oil-water separation, we noticed that the water sunk to the bottom because it weighs more, while the oil floated to the top. The liquid that we removed was not water; it was oil.
• Distillation
• Saltwater is heated in a test tube and the water evaporates, leaving only salt. Then, the water vapor condenses and a pure liquid remains in the second test tube, while only salt remains in the first. 

• Conductivity
• When saltwater is placed under a conductivity test, the light bulb goes on. When distilled water is placed under a conductivity test, nothing happens.
• Therefore, even though both solutions "appear" to both be clear, they are actually different and have other minerals added.

Class Data of Volumes:

	Before the treatment (mL)	After oil-water separation (mL)	After sand filtration (mL)	After charcoal adsorption and filtration (mL)
H	100	93	75	82
He	100	92	91	83
Li	100	95	93	86
Be	100	83	80	77
B	100	85	69	68
C	104	87	50	41