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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: zoee on July 25, 2007, 07:17:48 AM

Title: helppp! measuring the alkalinity of the water
Post by: zoee on July 25, 2007, 07:17:48 AM

 im zoe :) im a grade 12 chem student.....i need help.. basically i need to develop my own kit that tests the alkalinity of water at a creek near my school....any hints / websites that will help me with this....thanks heaps....zoee

Title: Re: helppp! measuring the alkalinity of the water
Post by: AWK on July 25, 2007, 07:25:30 AM

Start from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alkalinity

Title: Re: helppp! measuring the alkalinity of the water
Post by: Custos on July 25, 2007, 09:27:01 PM

Hi Zoe. It's easy to measure the alkalinity of creek water if you have pH paper or strips. If you search for "pH test strips" on the internet you will find lots of places selling them (e.g. here (http://www.ph-ion.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=205&gclid=CMntpNiHxI0CFRFNYAodgUTxJw)).

Since your creek water is likely to reasonably neutral (I hope!) you will want pH strips in the 6-8 range. Then you can just test the water to find out the pH. 7.0 is neutral, anything above is alkaline anything below is acidic.

Title: Re: helppp! measuring the alkalinity of the water
Post by: Borek on July 26, 2007, 02:41:49 AM

Alkalinity and pH are different things.

Title: Re: helppp! measuring the alkalinity of the water
Post by: zoee on July 26, 2007, 08:54:23 AM

well we have to developed and assemble this kit to measure the alkalinity of the creek. i need some information on the sort of things i need for this kit like the chemicals. thank youu any help would be greatttttttt  ;D

Title: Re: helppp! measuring the alkalinity of the water
Post by: enahs on July 26, 2007, 09:15:55 AM

How about some of the many chemical indicators you know of and might have used in lab.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PH_indicator
And then a series of known standard solutions of pH.

You can then compare the water in question with the standards.


Litmus strips would also be helpful. It would allow you to know if it is acidic or basic without wasting any indicator, or doing any real mess.


I of course would just go and buy some pH test papers my self!
http://www.indigo.com/science-supplies/ph-paper.html
I link that site so Borek can be all happy, as they give a link to his program!

Title: Re: helppp! measuring the alkalinity of the water
Post by: Borek on July 26, 2007, 11:57:08 AM

How about helppping yourself:

http://www.google.com/search?q=alkalinity+determination