CVFinal+Summary

Corey Vasta

Chem Comm

Ms. Hawkins

June 3rd 2011 Mashamoquet- The Project Summary

Where we observed was Mashamoquet river where we collected water samples. Where trees and animal grow and prosper.

-The most famous feature is the Wolf Den into which, on a night in 1742, Israel Putnam crept and shot a wolf that for years had preyed upon local sheep and poultry

Current day uses: tourist site

site contained no visible litter, water spelt unpleasant, bridge seen going across the river and a hill leading to a near dried pond.

Weather conditions was humid and sticky with overcast clouds.

Average temperature was around 16 degrees Celsius

alkalinity group member

we took water sample

take a tablet and put it in water and shake until colour changes

insert 2nd tablet and shake vial till water changes again

then add a few drops of stuff from a syringe

record data.

Dissolved oxygen missing description of test

 This was an overall positive test, because we took water samples of the water and the D.O. level came out to be a 9.2 and trout and salmon only need a 5 to live in.

If the river at Mashmoquet was to be unhealthy than the river would be lower than 5, because the ecosystem for the river consists of trout pumpkin seeds and other small creatures.

We had three different groups doing dissolved oxygen and out of the three groups the average dissolved oxygen readings came out to be around 9.

Mashmoquets water quality turned out to be very healthy

<span style="display: block; font-family: Times New Roman,serif; text-align: left;">Water hardness


 * Hardness is a measure of the total concentration of calcium and magnesium ions, and, to a lesser extent, the salts of other minerals. Calcium and magnesium enter the
 * water via the action of carbonic acid. As water and carbon dioxide react, carbonic acid is produced and dissolves calcium and magnesium from carbonate rocks.

Alkalinity: two tests were conducted one with a Alkalinity Level of 20.6 ppm and one with a PH level of 40. The alkalinity of fresh waters is typically between 20 and 200 mg/l. In CT, alkalinity values are generally well below 100 mg/l. The pH of water does not decline steadily with acid contamination. Buffering minerals moderate the decline to around pH 6.4. Below pH 5.5 very little buffering materials remain and the pH declines rapidly upon addition of acid. At about pH 4.5, the buffering capacity of the water is lost. A negative PH level would be either too low or too high. The levels found at Mashamoquet were border line for fresh water, meaning it is safe enough for aquatic animals.


 * Alkalinity || 20.6 || 20.6 || 40 || 20.6 || 20.6 ||  ||   ||

Nitrate:

take a sample of the water, hold for 48 hours until our next class. it had to take 5ml of the sample of water and put it into three different tubes. We had distilled water that we put into the colorimeter and had to push the "30 second read" button and adjust the "Set Blank" button to 100%. Pour 5Ml of water into a graduated Cylinder. Return it to the 'Reading tube'. Measure 5ml of Mixed Acid Reagent to the tube, mix and wait. Add .2g of Nitrate reducing reagent by filing the .1g spoon twice. Mix within a four period minute. Wait ten minutes. Insert the reading tube into the chamber and press the "30 second read button". Then read the percentage and change it to ppm with the chart given.

For a healthy result in an unpolluted area, the levels are usually less than 1.0 mg/l. Acceptable concentrate in CT with a pH pf 7.0 and temp of 250C is 1.24 mg/l

For an unhealthy result would be exceeding more than 10 mg/l. If Elevated this is caused by human contamination from fertilizers and sewage. The high levels of nitrates causes growth to aquatic plants and can be harmful to small mammals. The test results at Mashamoquet State Park was two that were done by our group, which was Ammonia and then the Nitrate test. Our results for the Ammonia test was 0.25 ppm for each of our three tries. Our results for the Nitrate test was 0.40 ppm for the first try, 0.34 ppm for the second try, and 0.38 ppm for the last try. Mashamoquet, it is a little lower than it should be to be able to meet the standard of a healthy environment. The numbers for a healthy environment are usually less than 1.0 mg/l, which with our results for the Nitrate test works. It may be on the lower side for a healthy environment but at least it is in the range where it will not cause much harm.

pH is a measure of the hydrogen ion concentration of water, which determines
 * pH:**

whether the water is acidic or "basic" (alkaline). It is measured using an electrical probe sensitive

to hydrogen ion activity. The pH scale ranges from 1 (very acidic) to 14 (very alkaline or "basic")

and is logarithmic. Thus, a change of one pH unit represents a tenfold change in hydrogen ion

concentration. For example, a pH of 6.0 has ten times the hydrogen ions of pH 7.0 and one

hundred times the hydrogen ions of pH 8.0. Because of this, it is inappropriate to calculate a mean

pH. Rather, a median pH should be expressed.

The pH of most natural waters ranges from 6.5 to 8.5. Deviation from the neutral 7.0 is

largely the result of the interaction between acids and bases. Industrial and community wastes,

acid rain, bedrock type, and the biological processes of photosynthesis, respiration, and

decomposition all influence pH levels.

The pH of water is extremely important to aquatic life. Most aquatic species tolerate a

limited pH range and most fish require a pH above 5.5 for growth and reproduction. If waters

become too acidic, metals, such as aluminum and lead, can be leached from the surrounding soil

and bottom sediments, contaminating fish and other aquatic organisms.

pH was tested by using an indicator that showed a yellow color if the water was acidic or a blue color if it was basic.

Ammonia:

Ammonia-Nitrogen. Ammonia (NH3) is extremely soluble in water. When dissolved, it reacts to form ammonium (NH4+) and hydroxide (OH-) ions, as shown by the following reversible equation.

Since NH4+ is relatively less toxic to aquatic organisms than NH3, toxicity is primarily attributed to the un-ionized form.

Of all freshwater organisms, fishes are generally considered the most sensitive to ammonia toxicity. By decreasing the ability of hemoglobin to combine with oxygen, NH3 may cause fish to suffocate. Brief exposure of fishes to high concentrations of NH3 may lead to loss of equilibrium, hyperexcitability, increased breathing and cardiac output, and, in extreme cases, convulsions, coma, and death. Prolonged exposure to lower concentrations reduces hatching success, growth rate, and morphological development and may cause pathological changes in the tissues of gills, livers, and kidneys (CA State Water Resources Control Board 1963).

The toxicity of ammonia is affected by several factors including pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, salinity, carbon dioxide concentration, previous acclimation to NH3, fluctuating or intermittent exposures, and other toxins. Some factors minimize or exacerbate the effects of NH3 itself, while others alter the concentration of NH3 by shifting the equilibrium. Of all factors affecting toxicity, temperature and pH are considered the most important. Increases in either variable are associated with increased concentrations of NH3 relative to NH4+. As NH3 becomes more abundant, the risk to aquatic organisms increases.

Test results for ammonia are often expressed as ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N), or "nitrogen that was in the form of ammonia." In unpolluted, well-oxygenated freshwaters NH3-N levels are usually less than 1.0 mg/l. In CT, the maximum acceptable concentration of NH3-N, assuming a pH of 7.0 and a temperature of 250C, is 1.24 mg/l. In especially sensitive areas, like salmon spawning grounds, the maximum limit is lower (0.86 mg/l). As either temperature or pH change, the amount of ammonia needed to produce the same toxic effects also changes. If temperature or pH decrease, more NH3 is needed and the maximum acceptable concentration increases. Conversely, if temperature or pH rise, less NH3 is needed and the maximum limit decreases. The criteria for NH3-N concentrations at various temperatures, given a constant pH, are presented in Appendix D of Water Quality Standards (CT DEP 1992). For a description of the chemical reactions occurring in tests for NH3-N, see the section entitled "Chemical Reactions."

The ammonia test, like the ph test was done with an indicator. The darker the green, the more ammonia was present. 1mg/l = 1ppm Did you just take this information offline. You should paraphrase. Cannot give credit for this work if it is not your own.

environment news:

In an unnamed stream that flows into Mashamoquet Brook near the main entrance to the park, bacteria levels spiked right after rainstorms, leading People to blame runoff, likely from a farm or from the owner of a large animal who didn’t cover its waste.

Conclusion:

I feel Mashamoquet State Park is generally at a healthy state. this reason is due to the tests results gathered during our trip. A few things that could be done to help keep the river clean is pick up after ourselves and our pets. Mashamoquet compares to the pond at Killingly High school because they are both at stable levels for aquatic organisms to live in. Both water was found to be decently clean and have a healthy environment.