[Biology Class Notes] on Collect Water from Two Different Water Bodies Around You and Study Them for pH Clarity and Presence of any Living Organism Pdf

The physical qualities of water include temperature, color, taste, odor, etc. these qualities are determined by touch, sight, smell, and taste. For example, we can check the temperature by touch, color, floating particles, turbidity and suspended solids by sight, and taste and odor by smell. Our goal here is to study different water bodies for pH, clarity and the presence of any living organisms. Water forms about 75 % of the earth’s surface. It is vital for all forms of life. Water is the habitat for many aquatic organisms. Here, we will focus on the study of the pH of different samples of water

In water, you will find many kinds of living organisms; some are visible to the naked eye while some may be microscopic. Sometimes you will also find suspended particles, a variety of plants and algae which have unique qualities to survive in water. Some conditions that control the quality of water are different types of plants, animals and their population, the turbidity of the water, and the pH levels of the water. Let us study an experiment by exploring different types of water bodies for pH, clarity, and presence of any living organisms.

 

Aim

To study and measure the pH level, clarity, presence of microbes, and other living organisms in two different water bodies.

Apparatus and Materials Required 

1. Secchi’s Disk

2. Tape

3. Pins

4. Universal Indicator solution

5. Dropper

6. Tile

7. pH

8. Beaker

9. Test tube

10. Coverslips

11. Filter paper

12. glass slides

13. Needles

14. Compound microscope. 

Procedure

To study pH levels of the two water bodies:

1. Take two different water samples from two different bodies in a clean test tube.

2. Label them as A and B.

3. Dip the pH stripes in both the test tubes, which have different water samples.

4. Keep the strips on the tile and let the strips dry.

5. Simultaneously, pH levels of the water samples can also be found through the Universal Indicator Solution or (UI solution).

6. With the help of a dropper, take five drops of UI solution in both A and B test tubes.

7. Note the change in color of both water samples in A and B, and compare them with the color chart to identify the pH level.

To study the clarity or turbidity of the water sample:

1. Move to the middle of a pond with the help of a boat.

2. Dip the Secchi’s disc into the water until the black and white segments get immersed.

3. Mark and label the length on the rope, where the disk is not visible with a pin as “A”.

4. Take the disc up, mark, and label the length of the rope where the disc becomes visible again as “B”.

5. Take a meter tape and measure the length of the Mark A to B.

6. By using the measurements, find the mean length of the rope by using the formula, X= (A+B)/2.

To study the presence of living organisms in the two water bodies:

1. Collect water samples from a pond and transfer them into the test tube.

2. Leave the sample water for a while until the sediments get settled at the bottom.

3. Take a drop of water from the test tube to the glass slide

4. On the slide, place a coverslip using a needle.

5. Using a compound microscope, observe the entire slide.