HE+Task+2

=__Dissolved Oxygen Test__=

Have you ever wondered how fish breathe in water? They do not use the oxygen that is found in the molecule (H2O). Instead, fish and other aquatic animals use oxygen gas, that has been dissolved in water, to breathe. This oxygen gas is referred to as dissolved oxygen and it is very important in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem.

Dissolved oxygen enters the water in a couple ways. One way is through the process of photosynthesis in aquatic plant life. The other is through diffusion of oxygen in the air at the surface. Ideally a good level of dissolved oxygen is 7 - 11 mg/L. This level is good enough for most stream fish to thrive. A level of 4-7 mg/L is good for most pond animals; 2 -4mg/L is good for few species of aquatic animals. Anything less than 2mg/L is not enough for most animals to survive.

Factors that effect the levels of dissolved oxygen (DO for short) are human factors and naturally occurring factors. Human factors that effect the levels of dissolved oxygen are the addition of sewage wastes and fertilizers. The addition of waste such as sewage contains organisms that use up the oxygen. The addition of nutrients (eutrophication) causes the plants and algae to rapidly grow and die off, due to over crowding This brings in high levels of bacteria which use up the oxygen. Natural factors which effect the level of dissolved oxygen are increasing the temperature of the water, water at high altitudes, slow moving water, and water with high levels of plant life.

__**Prelab**__ 1.) Where do aquatic organisms get the oxygen they need to breathe? They do not use the oxygen that is found in the molecule (H2O). Instead, fish and other aquatic animals use oxygen gas, that has been dissolved in water, to breathe.  2.) How does oxygen enter the water supply? One way is through the process of photosynthesis in aquatic plant life. The other is through diffusion of oxygen in the air at the surface. 3.) What human factors effect the levels of dissolved oxygen? Human factors that effect the levels of dissolved oxygen are the addition of sewage wastes and fertilizers. The addition of waste such as sewage contains organisms that use up the oxygen. The addition of nutrients (eutrophication) causes the plants and algae to rapidly grow and die off, due to over crowding This brings in high levels of bacteria which use up the oxygen.  4.) What natural factors effect the levels of dissolved oxygen? Natural factors which effect the level of dissolved oxygen are increasing the temperature of the water, water at high altitudes, slow moving water, and water with high levels of plant life. 5.) Predict: If Mashamoquet were a healthy ecosystem, what level of dissolved oxygen might you expect to find there? Ideally a good level of dissolved oxygen is 7 - 11 mg/L. This level is good enough for most stream fish to thrive. A level of 4-7 mg/L is good for most pond animals; 2 -4mg/L is good for few species of aquatic animals. Anything less than 2mg/L is not enough for most animals to survive.

__**Procedure and Materials**__ Please see La Motte: Dissolved Oxygen Test kit Instructions.

Please be aware of the safety warnings for Manganous Sulfate Solution, Alkaline Potassium Iodide Azide, Sodium Thiosulfate, and Sulfamic acid.

- Identify any safety precautions you should take or any warnings that the chemicals you are using may have. Be aware of how these chemicals may cause you harm. With the Manganous Sulfate Solution it may irritate the skin and eyes, and you should wear gloves and goggles for protection. With the Sulfamic Acid Powder it may be irritating to the eyes, skin and mucous membranes, and you should wear gloves and goggles for protection.

__**Data**__

Identify where you obtained your experimental sample from: We obtained it from the pond outside of the school in the back.

List the level of dissolved oxygen. 5.8 was the level of dissolved oxygen.

**Analysis** Is the level of dissolved oxygen for your sample a safe and a healthy level for fish and other aquatic organisms? Yes because a level of 4-7 mg/L is good for most pond animals and ours was 5.8.

**Conclusion** 1.) Do you think you have may encountered any errors in the lab? If so, describe them. Yes, just one error which was that when adding the drops into the solution only one drop was supposed to be added and a couple people added two or three by mistake which could have resulted in some errors.

2.) How might you overcome those errors next time you are collecting this data? Just by being more careful when pushing down on the materials so that when your pushing the drops down into the solution your going very slowly so that only one drop goes in instead of two or three.

Good job, nice details graded