Water Testing

Testing for the Acidity/Basicity and Dissolved Oxygen in Water

Iris C. Berces
St. Paul College, Pasig
High School Department
iris.berces@spcpasig.edu.ph
Abstract this report delves into two factors that affect
water quality: pH and dissolved oxygen levels. These factors
are quantified through the acidity/basicity test and the
dissolved oxygen test, respectively. These tests, one alike to
the very known Winkler method, are done in real life
situations to ensure the good quality of water, for too acidic
or basic water situations can cause consequential effects. If
the concentrations of dissolved oxygen are low though,
aquatic organisms may not survive in the area, compared to
water with just the right levels of DO wherein they can
survive with little pollution. Too high can cause
uncontrollable plant growth. Essentially, the pH and DO are
needed to maintain healthy bodies of water for the ecosystem
to maintain itself as well. The paper reports on how the tests
are executed, and the expected results.
KeywordspH, Dissolved Oxygen, Acidity, Basicity

I.

INTRODUCTION

Water is an essential to many life forms, especially to

humans. It is vital that they are able to take a certain amount
of water a day, but it is also crucial that the water is just right.
Water testing is able to ensure that the quality of water is
maintained. Many factors can affect the quality of water, like
pH and dissolved oxygen.
The pH refers to the amount of hydrogen ions in a liquid
[1]. The amount of hydrogen determines whether the liquid is
an acid or a base. If a liquids pH values less than 7, it is an
acid; higher, then it is a base. If it were in 7 however, it is
considered neutral. Normally, a person takes in water that pars
to a level 7 in the pH scale. If it does not, too acidic or alkaline
water can cause problems to the body.
Dissolved oxygen applies better to organisms that live in
water. Also referred to as DO, it refers to the concentrations of
oxygen in the water. If this concentration is too low, aquatic
animals will die due to lack of oxygen. If its too high, it can
cause uncontrollable plant growth, like algae, which can pose
many other problems.
Generally, the standards for water must just be right in
order to maintain healthy bodies of water for both humans and
other animals, which continuously sustains the earths
ecosystem.
After the experiment, the student is expected to be able to:
Know the concept of pH and dissolved oxygen; Perform
essential water testing techniques, and; understand the

significance of factors like pH and dissolved oxygen to water

quality and health.
II. METHODOLOGY
A. Materials
a. Acidity/Basicity Test
Apparatus:
1 spot plate
1 microspatula
4 droppers
Chemicals:
0.10 M Sodium Hydroxide Solution (NaOH (aq))
0.10 M Hydrochloric Acid (HCl (aq))
Universal Indicator Solution
5 ml Tap water sample
5ml Drinking water sample
b. Dissolved Oxygen Test
Apparatus:
1 spot plate
1 glass sample vial with stopper
1 microspatula
A basin
3 droppers
Rubber gloves
Surgical mask
250-ml beaker
Chemicals:
Manganese (II) sulfate solution (MnSO4 (aq))
Sodium hydroxide-potassium iodide solution
(NaOH/KI (aq))
11 M Hydrochloric acid (HCl (aq))
Soluble starch powder
5 ml Pond water sample
5ml Drinking water sample

B. Procedure
a. Acidity/Basicity Test
The spot plate was acquired first. Each dropper was
used for each of the chemicals except the universal
indicator solution; about 5 drops of each chemical in a
certain well of the plate as follows: 0.10 M HCl in well
A1; drinking water in A2; 0.10 M NaOH in A3, and; tap
water in A4.
One drop of the universal indicator solution was put
in each of the four wells. In the instance the solution didnt
mix well the first time, the solution in the well was mixed
with a microspatula. The color changes were noted.
b. Dissolved Oxygen Test
A small amount of pond water sample was obtained in
a clean bottle. This sample was first transferred into a glass
vial, filled that it overflowed and that there were no air
bubbles trapped in the vial. The vial was placed in the basin to
be able to perform the experiment properly, for the sample
overflowed the vial.

III. DATA AND CALCULATIONS

A. Acidity/Basicity test
Table 1. Universal Indicator Color Table
Color of Universal Indicator
Solution in Test Sample

Description

Dark Red to Light Red

Very acidic

Dark Orange to Yellow

Slightly acidic

Light Green

Neutral

Dark Green to Dark Blue

Slightly basic

Light Purple to Dark Purple

Very basic

0.5 ml of the MnSO4 solution was obtained through a

dropper. It was taken in a way that there were no air bubbles in
the dropper. Then, the dropper was put halfway in the vial and
the MnSO4 solution was released into the vial, carefully that
there were no air bubbles released in the vial. After, the
procedure was done as well with the NaOH/KI solution with
another dropper. The glass vial then was closed with a stopper,
not letting any air bubbles in.
The glass vial was inverted a few times to mix the
contents in the vial. The changes in the sample were noted.
With another dropper, 1 ml of HCl was obtained with
the same procedure of the recent chemicals. At this point, the
performer of the experiment had a surgical mask and rubber
gloves on, for HCl is corrosive and had harmful vapors. The
dropper filled with HCl was put halfway in the vial, and then
the solution was released into the sample without any air
bubbles. Again the vial was closed with the stopper and was
inverted a few times to mix the contents of the vial. Changes
in the sample were noted.
The resulting sample was extracted from the vial with
another dropper, and then placed in a well on the spot plate.
The narrow end of the microspatula was taken and
dipped into the soluble starch powder in the beaker. Powder
must not be heaped on the spatula. Once this was done the
spatula was dipped into the well with the sample and mixed it.
The changes in the sample were noted.
This procedure for dissolved oxygen content was
also done to a sample of drinking water.

Figure 1. Universal Indicator pH Color Chart

Illustration taken from <
http://www.middleschoolchemistry.com/lessonplans/chapter6/lesson
8>
Table 2. Observations from Experiment on Acidity/Basicity of
Water
Well Number

Color of Universal
Indicator Solution
in Test Sample

Description

A1 (HCl)

Dark Red

Very acidic

A2 (Drinking
water)

Orange

Slightly acidic

A3 (NaOH)

Dark Blue

Slightly basic

A4 (Tap water)

Light Green

Neutral

Figure 3. Water sample after the addition of the MnSO4 solution

Illustration taken from < own camera>

Figure 2. The samples after the universal indicator solution was

mixed. Illustration taken from <own camera>

B. Dissolved Oxygen Test

Table 3. Observations from Dissolved Oxygen Test of Pond and
Tap Water

Water
Sample

Addition
of
MnSO4

Addition
of NaOHKI

Pond
Water

The
sample
turned a
clear
yellow
The
sample
turned a
clear
yellow

The
sample
had a pale
yellow
precipitate
The
sample
had a pale
yellow
precipitate

Drinking
water

The
sample
did not
change.

Addition
of
Soluble
Starch
Powder
The
sample
turned
purple

The
sample
had no
significant
change.

The
sample
stayed a
pale
yellow.

Addition
of HCl

Figure 4. Water sample after the addition of the NaOH-KI

solution
Illustration taken from < own camera>

hydrogen. This is the recommended level of pH for water.

Water thats too acidic can cause corrosion and irritation,
while water thats too basic or alkaline can worsen skin
conditions [5].
DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Dissolved oxygen in water is essential, especially to
aquatic life. Also denoted as DO, if the amount of this is low it
is less likely that living things can live in that certain water. If
the concentrations of oxygen are higher, it is certain that life
can be supported in the water, and that there is little pollution
present [2]. If DO levels are too high however, it can cause
algal blooms, which can lead to more problems.
Tests like the Winkler method assess for the concentrations
of oxygen [2]. This test, however alike to the said method,
depends upon the resulting colour after the addition of starch.
Figure 5. The resulting colors of both drinking water and tap
water samples after undergoing the experimental procedure
Illustration taken from < own camera>

IV. DATA ANALYSIS

Water testing is a method done to identify certain aspects
of a certain water sample. Many factors affect the quality of
water that is needed most today. The two tests in this
experiment, namely the acidity/basicity and dissolved oxygen
test, are two of some of the important tests on water. These
two tests assess the level of pH and the amount of oxygen in a
given water sample.
ACIDITY AND BASICITY pH LEVELS
The pH is the quantitative measure if the acidity or the
basicity of aqueous or other liquid solutions [1]. A level of pH
translates to a value of concentration of the hydrogen ion [1].
In turn, certain reactions of different acids and bases to the
universal indicator solution cause a discoloration of the
sample to a colour associated to a certain pH level. For
example, an acid with a pH of 5 would result to an orange
colour if the universal indicator would come in contact.
In this experiment, four (4) chemicals were tested: HCl,
NaOH, drinking water, and tap water. HCl and NaOH are
examples of an acid and a base, respectively. Its further
proven by including it in the experiment. The hydrochloric
acid solution resulted to a dark red colour, which associates to
a very acidic level, specifically level 4. The sodium hydroxide,
on the other hand, gave a dark blue colour after adding the
indicator. This means NaOH is only slightly basic, specifically
a basic pH level of 9.
Pure water has a pH of 7.0, and gives a green colour if
tested. However, this wasnt the case of drinking water, of
which resulted to an orange colouran equivalent to pH 5.
The standard of drinking water ranges from a pH of 6.5-8.5
[4], which is conflicting to the result of this experiment. This
result may be a consequence due to mishandling. It is
recommended to ensure the cleanliness of the apparatus to be
used, for it can contribute to an erroneous result.
Tap water, on the other hand, resulted to a light green
colour, corresponding to a pH of 7.0a neutral level of

The change of colour indicates the presence of an amount

of oxygen due to a chemical process initiated by the
manganese (II) sulphate potassium iodide solution.
Manganese (II) oxidizes to manganese (III) due to the
presence of oxygen [3]. Manganese (III) afterward reacts to
the iodide in the solution. Iodide turns back into iodine, which
can be physically interpreted through the addition of starch.
Thus the amount of iodine represents the amount of oxygen in
the water sample [3].
In this experiment, the basis of whether there was oxygen
in the water samples was based on the samples colour change.
The change in colour indicates that there is oxygen in the
samples, and that if given that it would be used, will be
suitable for aquatic organismsthis was true for the pond
water sample, which turned a dark purple. Drinking water
however, did not significantly change in colour for there is no
oxygen present. Drinking water isnt ideally used for aquatic
life.
V. CONCLUSION
The levels of pH and dissolved oxygen are not only
essential to water quality and health itself, but also to a whole
ecosystem. If water were too acidic and low in oxygen,
humans and other biotic elements of the system wont be able
to survive, thus the ceasing of the species. The acidity/basicity
and the amount of DO in a water sample can be found through
a series of tests involving chemicals such as NaOH and HCl.
These chemicals cause reactions to discolour, signifying the
state of the sample. Thus, at the end of the experiment the
student objectives were realized.

VI. REFERENCES
[1]

[2]

pH. (2013). Encyclopdia Britannica. Encyclopdia Britannica

Ultimate
Reference
Suite.
Chicago: Encyclopdia
Britannica.https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bzwu5gKRdtXHV3E5RlBCd
k5Lak8tVjM0MzAyWGxVZTlfQWZZ/edit?
filetype=mspresentation&pref=2&pli.
Bruckner, Monica. N.d. The Winkler Method Measuring dissolved
Oxygen.
Retrieved
from
http://serc.carleton.edu/microbelife/research_methods/environ_sampling
/oxygen.html

[3]

[4]
[5]

2016. Determination of Dissolved Oxygen in Water. from

http://www.outreach.canterbury.ac.nz/chemistry/documents/dissolved_o
xygen.pdf
Hendrick, Kirsten. 2014. Drinking Water pH Levels. Retrieved from
http://www.livestrong.com/article/104683-drinking-water-ph-levels/
Rogers, Chris D. 2013. Health Effects of pH on Drinking Water.
Retrieved from http://www.livestrong.com/article/214475-health-effectsof-ph-on-drinking-water/

[6]

N.d. Water Quality. Retrieved from http://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/k12/fenlewis/Waterquality.htm