Environmental-Chemistry_1
Environmental-Chemistry_1
Environmental-Chemistry_1
Chemistry
Introduction
With so many impurities in natural and drinking water, one of the best
solutions for communities is to have the right municipal water
treatment system in place. Water treatment systems help to eliminate
aluminum, chlorides and other hidden chemical and elements from
drinking water systems.
Common impurities found in freshwater
The water as used should be free from all impurities that are
offensive to the sense of sight, taste, or smell. The physical
characteristics of the water include turbidity, color, taste and odor,
temperature, and foamability.
Physical characteristics
TURBIDITY
The presence of suspended material, such as clay, silt, finely divided
organic material, plankton, and other inorganic material in water is
known as turbidity.
Turbidity is the measure of relative clarity of a liquid. It is an optical
characteristic of water and is a measurement of the amount of light that is
scattered by material in the water when a light is shined through the water
sample. The higher the intensity of scattered light, the higher the turbidity.
Physical characteristics
Color
Pure water is colourless but water in nature is often coloured by foreign sub-
stances. Water, whose colour is partly due to suspended matter, is said to
have apparent colour. Colour contributed by dissolved solids that remain
after removal of suspended matter is known as true colour.
The tanning, humic acid etc. present in the organic debris (leaves, wood,
weeds etc.) impart a yellowish brown colour to water as it comes in contact
with them. Iron oxide cause reddish water and manganese oxides cause
brown or blackish water.
Physical characteristics
Temperature
It is one of the most important parameters in natural surface water
systems I he temperature of surface waters governs to a large extent the
biological species present and then- rate of activity. Temperature has an
effect on most chemical ructions that occur in natural water systems.
Temperature also has a great effect on the solubilities of gases in water.
The use of water for dissipation of waste heats in industry and the
subsequent discharge of the heated water may result in dramatic
temporary change in receiving streams.
Activity 1