Module Answer Key: Unit 1
Module Answer Key: Unit 1
Module Answer Key: Unit 1
Unit 1
1. b. 1 pH meter buffers should not be used more than this number of days
2. d. 121 °C Autoclaves must reach this temperature
3. c. 3 Balances must be calibrated with this number of weights
4. a. 0°C Sample freezer temperatures must be under this amount
5. c. 3 pH meters should be calibrated with this many buffers.
1. For these types of drinking water samples, fill the vial completely with the sample (creating a meniscus)
& check for air bubbles. Then, fill a second vial.
1
2. For these types of samples, if you are using a sterilized 125 mL blue-capped bottle prefixed with sodium
thiosulfate, remove the bottle cap and hold it in your hand. Do not touch the inside of the cap or bottle. Fill
sample bottle to neck (leave airspace) and do not overflow. Then cap the bottle and invert it several times
to mix.
Ans: b. Total or Fecal Coliform Bacteria samples
3. When collecting wastewater samples, the use of personal floatation devices (PFDs) around any body of
water (especially moving water) can save your life.
Ans: a. true
4. It is good to use commercial detergents for cleansing any glassware used in the storage or analysis of
samples for phosphorus determination.
Ans: b. False
1. Coliform bacteria themselves don’t usually cause illness but are usually present among other disease-
causing organisms, so they are used as an indicator of sanitary quality of foods and water.
a. True
b. False
Ans: a. true
a. True
b. False
Ans: a. true
3. Under Chapter 252, every 14 months, laboratories are required to give their staff which types of
training? (Directions: choose the best answer)
a. Technical Training & Legal Training
b. Legal Training & Ethics Training
c. Technical Training & Ethics Training
2
Ans: b. Legal Training & Ethics Training
Unit 2
Ans:
14.0
1.5
11.85
27.35
Answer: b. 7.1
3
2. A drinking water system with a filter plant measured the finished water turbidity at the entry point to their
distribution system and found the following 5 readings: 0.21 NTU, 0.2 NTU, 0.113 NTU, 0.3 NTU and 1
NTU. Calculate the average of these finished water turbidity readings (keep all the decimal places in the
answer.)
1. X = 2.4 X = ______
200
Answer: Multiply both sides by 200; the 200”s on the one side cancel out to leave x.
X = 480
2. 10 = 3000 X = ______
X
Answer: Multiply both sides by x to move it into the numerator (the x’s cancel out). Then divide by 10 on both
sides of the equation (the 10’s then cancel out).
X = 300
% = unknown
4
Part = 45
Whole = 150
Step 2: Find your formula: We are using the formula % = Part x 100
Whole
In this case, we are solving for % , so we just plug the numbers into the equation as is (using X as the
unknown).
X% = 45 x 100
150
X% = 0.3 x 100
X = 30%
% = 45
Part = unknown
Whole = 150
Step 2: Find your formula; we are once again using the formula % = Part x 100
Whole
(150) 45% = X Part x 100 x (150) (We’ll multiply both sides of the equation by 150)
150
5
(150) 45% = (X Part) (100) (We’ll divide both sides of the equation by 100)
100 100
X Part = 67.5
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Practice #6 - Unit Conversions
1. How many milliliters (mL) are in 30 liters?
X mL =
Conversion relationship to use is 1 L = 1000 mL; vertical format can be written as 1,000 mL
1L
X mL = 1000 mL x
1L
Conversion
X mL = 1000 mL x 30 L
1L Known
X mL = 1000 mL x 30 L
1L
X = 30,000 mL
Xg=
Conversion relationship to use is 1 gram = 1,000,000 ug; vertical format can be written as 1g
1,000,000 ug
X g = 1 gram x
1,000,000 ug
Conversion
X g = 1 gram x 2,500 ug
1,000,000 ug Known
X = 0.0025 grams
7
Practice #7 - Converting between ppm and ppb
1. How many ppb are in 5.3 ppm?
X ppb =
Conversion relationship to use is 1 ppm = 1000 ppb; vertical format can be written as 1,000 ppb
1 ppm
X ppb = 1000 ppb x
1 ppm
X = 5,300 ppb
X ppm =
Conversion relationship to use is 1 ppm = 1,000 ppb; vertical format can be written as 1 ppm
1,000 ppb
X ppm = 1 ppm x
1,000 ppb
X = = 0.0015 ppm
1. What is the º F value for 121º C (the temperature autoclaves must reach)?
8
= (121º C x 1.8) + 32º
= (218º C) + 32º
= 250º F
1.1
0.98
1.231
2.0
5.311
1. Given the temperatures of 93 °F, 99 °F, 101 °F, and 91 °F, calculate the average.
93 °F + 99 °F + 101 °F + 91 °F
4
= 96 °F
9
X = 20
5
X=4
7.5 X = 1,000
2.5 X = 1,000
2.5 2.5
X = 1,000
2.5
X = 400
X% = 15 x 100
60
X% = 0.25 x 100
X = 25%
(60) 15% = X Part x 100 x (60) (We’ll multiply both sides of the equation by 60)
60
(60) 15% = (X Part) (100) (We’ll divide both sides of the equation by 100)
100 100
X Part = 9
Answer: 15% of 60 = 9
10
8. How many centimeters are in 2 meters?
Step 1: List unknown data including units followed by an equal sign (you can use “X” for the
unknown number.
Example:
Unknown: X cm =
Step 2: Find data (known or conversion) that has the same numerator unit as the unknown
number. Place it to the right of the equal sign and add a multiplication sign. This positions your
numerator.
Example: X cm = 100 cm x
1m Conversion
Step 3: To cancel unwanted denominator units, find data (known or conversion) that has the same
numerator unit. Place it to the right of the data used in step 2. Continue to place data (known or
conversion) into the equation to systematically cancel unwanted units until only the unknown
denominator units remain.
Example: X cm = 100 cm x 2 m
1m Known
Step 4: Do the Math (multiply all numerator values, multiply all denominator values (if there are
any), then divide the numerator by the denominator).
X cm = 100 cm x 2 = 200 cm
Step 1: List unknown data including units followed by an equal sign (you can use “X” for the
unknown number).
XL=
Step 2: Find data (known or conversion) that has the same numerator unit as the unknown
number. Place it to the right of the equal sign and add a multiplication sign. This
positions your numerator.
XL= 1L x
1,000 mL
Step 3: To cancel unwanted denominator units, find data (known or conversion) that has the same
numerator unit. Place it to the right of the data used in step 2. Continue to place data (known or
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conversion) into the equation to systematically cancel unwanted units until only the unknown
denominator units remain.
XL= 1L x 300 mL
1,000 mL
Step 4: Do the Math (multiply all numerator values, multiply all denominator values, then divide
the numerator by the denominator).
XL= 1L x 300 mL
1,000 mL
= 0.3 L
10. If the body temperature is 97°F, what is the equivalent Celsius temperature?
Unit 3
Exercise #1 - pH:
a. Acid
Sodium Carbonate - Na2CO3 b. Base
a. Acid
Sulfuric Acid - H2SO4 b. Base
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a. Acid
Boric Acid - H3BO3 b. Base
a. Acid
Barium Hydroxide - Ba(OH)2 b. Base
1. Answers:
2. If Hydrochloric Acid – HCl - is added to water, will it raise or lower the pH?
3. If Calcium Hydroxide – Ca(OH)2 – (known as slaked lime) is added to water, will it raise or lower the pH?
1. We have 1.11 L of an 18 M H2SO4 solution. We dilute the solution to 200 L to create a 0.1 M H2SO4
.solution.
Answer: b. 18 M
Question 1-2. What are the units of volume for both our stock solution and diluted solution?
13
Answer: c. liters (L)
Answer: d. 0.1 M
2. Reagent water may be prepared by distillation, adsorption or reverse osmosis. Reagent water may not
be prepared by deionization.
Answer: b. False (Reagent water may be prepared by any of these 4 methods; deionization uses an
ion-exchange process.)
Unit 3 Exercise:
a. Analysis
b. Analyte
c. Acid
d. Aliquot
Answer: d. Aliquot
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True
3. If Potassium Hydroxide - KOH - is added to water, will it raise or lower the pH?
a. Raise the pH
b. Lower the pH
Answer: a. Potassium Hydroxide is a base, which will raise the pH.
4. A 1.5 mL of a 1.0 M salt-water solution is being diluted to make 3 mL of a 0.5 M salt-water solution.
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What is the concentration of the stock solution?
a. 1.5 mL
b. 1.0 M
c. 3 mL
d. 0.5 M
Answer: b. 1.0 M
5. You aliquot 5 mL of a 3 ppm standard. You dilute this solution with a diluent to make 15 mL of a working
solution at 1 ppm.
a. 1 ppm
b. 15 mL
c. 3 ppm
d. 5 mL
Answer: c. 3 ppm
Unit 4
a. 1.67 liters
b. 26 liters
c. 16.7 liters
d. 2.6 liters
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Answer: d. 2.6 liters
Step 2: Find the formula you will use. Since both solution units are the same – they are both Molarity (M)
units - and both volumes are in liters (L), we can use M1V1 = M2V2
d. The volume of the diluted solution will be 2.6 L (which means you add enough water to the salt
water solution to make 2.6 liters.)
2. What volume of a 1,000 mg/L NH3 stock solution must be used to create 1 liter of a 25 mg/l NH3 diluted
solution?
a. 0.025 L
b. 2.5 L
c. 0.4 L
d. 40 L
Answer: a. 0.025 L
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Step 2: Find the formula you will use. Since both solution units are the same – they are both mg/L units -
and both volumes are in liters (L), we can use M1V1 = M2V2
a. 3 mg
b. 0.333 mg
c. 19.2 mg
d. 192 mg
Step 1: Make a list of what you know and what you don’t:
Step 2: Find the formula you will use. Since we are dealing with solution concentration, solute mass, and
solution volume, we use the formula that has all of those variables.
Solution Concentration = Mass (of Solute) C=M
Volume (of Solution) V
Step 3: Make sure the concentration units are equivalent to the mass over volume units. In this case, they
are, so we can go ahead and plug in our numbers.
24 mg = M mg
1L 8L
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Step 4: Isolate the unknown item on one side of the equation:
You want to make 800 mL of a 3,000 mg/L CaCl2 solution. How many grams of CaCl2 will you need?
a. 0.192 grams
b. 2.4 grams
c. 37 grams
d. 3.75 grams
Step 1: Make a list of what you know and what you don’t:
Step 2: Find the formula you will use. Since we are dealing with solution concentration, solute mass, and
solution volume, we use the formula that has all of those variables.
Step 3: Make sure the concentration units are equivalent to the mass over volume units. In this case, they
are not, but can be converted.
We have to convert our volume (mL) to be equivalent to the volume in our concentration (the L in mg/L..)
X Liters =
XL = 1L x
1,000 mL
XL = 1L x 800 mL
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1,000 mL
= 0.8 L
3000 mg = x mg
1L 0.8 L
We have one more step, since we are asked for grams; therefore, we have to convert milligrams to grams.
Xg=
Xg = 1g x
1,000 mg
Xg = 1g x 2400 mg
1,000 mg
1. What volume of a 10.0 M aqueous salt water stock solution must be used to prepare 3.0 L of a 4.0 M salt
water solution?
a. 7.5 liters
b. 1.2 liters
c. 0.1 liters
d. 0.7 liters
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• Molarity of Stock Solution (M 1) = 10.0 M salt water solution
• Volume of Stock Solution in liters (V 1) = unknown
• Molarity of Diluted Solution (M 2) = 4.0 M salt water solution
• Volume of Stock Solution (V 2) = 3.0 L
Step 2: Find the formula you will use. Since both solution units are Molarity (M) units and both volumes are
in liters (L), we can use M1V1 = M2V2
(Molarity of solution 1)(Volume of solution 1 in liters) = (Molarity of solution 2)(Volume of solution 2 in liters)
2. You have a 4000 ppm standard. You need to make 200 mL of a 40 ppm working solution. How many
mL of standard will you need?
a. 4 mL
b. 2 mL
c. 40 mL
d. 20 mL
Step 2: Find the formula you will use. Since both solution concentration units are the same – they are both
ppm units - and both volumes are in milliliters (mL), we can use M1V1 = M2V2
20
Step 4: Isolate the unknown item on one side of the equation
= b. 2 mL
3. How many grams of sugar would you need if you want to make 450 mL of a 2500 mg/L sugar water
solution?
a. 1.125 grams
b. 5.557 grams
c. 180 grams
d. 2.95 grams
Step 1: Make a list of what you know and what you don’t:
Step 2: Find the formula you will use. Since we are dealing with solution concentration, solute mass, and
solution volume, we use the formula that has all of those variables.
Step 3: Make sure the concentration units are equivalent to the mass over volume units.
We have to convert our volume (mL) to be equivalent to the volume in our concentration (the L in mg/L..)
X Liters =
XL = 1L x
1,000 mL Conversion
XL = 1L x 450 mL
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1,000 mL Known
X = 0.45 L
2500 mg = x mg
1L 0.45L
We have one more step, since we are asked for grams; therefore, we have to convert milligrams to grams.
Xg=
Xg = 1g x
1,000 mg
Xg = 1g x 1125 mg
1,000 mg
Unit 5
Unit 5 Exercise:
1. Fill in the letter of the correct maximum sample holding time for the parameter. Selections can be used
more than once.
a. no max holding time; analyze immediately b. 30 hours c. 14 days d. 6 months
Ans:
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b. 30 hours Total Coliform Bacteria
a. No max holding time; analyze immediately Chlorine Residual
a. No max holding time; analyze immediately temperature
c. 14 days Alkalinity
d. 6 months Metals (except Hg)
a. No max holding time; analyze immediately pH
2. Under Chapter 252, for water baths, heating blocks, and ovens, temperatures are to be recorded once a
______________
a. day
b. week
c. month
Ans: a. day
Ans: b. False (calibrate every day or before each use, whichever is less frequent.)
A = once a day
B = once a week
C = once a month
Answers:
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4. Check *burette delivery volume D = once every 3 months
*If not Class A glassware
Unit 6
Unit 6 Answer Key:
a. operating
b. accredited
c. wastewater
Answer: b. accredited
2. A written laboratory document that provides detailed instructions for the performance of all aspects of a
test, analysis, operation or action is known as a _______.
a. SOP
b. QCP
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c. QAP
d. OPS
Answer: a. SOP
Directions: Fill in the left hand column of the table with the name of the QC sample beside the proper
description
iv. c. A known and verified mass or activity of the target analyte of interest
added to reagent water or environmental sample to determine recovery
efficiency or for other quality control purposes.
25
Answer: b. False – this is the definition for a single blind sample.
1. Sample duplicates are useful for analyzing laboratory performance, but PT samples are not.
a. True
b. False
Answer: b. False, since both types of samples are useful for analyzing laboratory performance.
a. 5
b. 10
c. 15
d. 20
Answer: d. 20
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1. Any time that a method has not been performed by the laboratory or analyst in a ______ month period,
an IDOC must be performed.
a. 3 months
b. 6 months
c. 9 months
d. 12 months
Ans: d. 12 months
2. A LCS is a sample of a controlled matrix known to be free of the analyte of interest, to which a known and verified
concentration of analyte has been added and that is taken through a few, but not all, of the preparation and analytical
steps in the method.
a. True
b. False
Answer: b. False, since a LCS sample is taken through all of the preparation and analytical steps in
the method.
3. Proficiency Testing (PT) samples must be analyzed at least once every ____ ________ for each analyte
and by each method used to analyze compliance samples.
a. 3 months
b. 6 months
c. 9 months
d. 12 months
Ans: d. 12 months
4. Any environmental samples associated with a contaminated method blank shall be reprocessed for
analysis. In addition, the source of contamination of the method blank shall be:
a. Disregarded since it was just the method blank, not the actual sample
c. Ignored, since these types of contaminant sources can never be determined anyway
27
Unit 7
Unit 7 Answer Key:
Unit 7 Exercise:
1. Your lab is going to obtain an additional field of accreditation from the state of Pennsylvania. You
perform PT studies (which you pass) and then do an IDOC analysis. Is this acceptable?
2. Before your laboratory does the aforementioned testing in question #1, what other 2 steps should it do?
b. Choose an approved method and send in the application for the FOA
3. All Pennsylvania environmental laboratories performing testing or analysis of wastewater for compliance
with the Clean Streams Law must be accredited by the Pa. DEP or NELAP.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True
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Unit 8
Unit 8 Answer Key:
Ans: 9.88
Ans: 10,000
Ans: 9,600
Ans: 9,640
a. 2.9 mg/L
b. 3.1 mg/L
c. 2.0 mg/L
d. 3.0 mg/L
29
Ans: = d. 3.0 mg/L.
2.10 mg/L + 3.52 mg/L + 2.71 mg/L + 3.56 mg/L = 11.89 mg/L = 2.9725
4 4
Step 2:
(a) Go one number past the last significant digit and underline that number, which you will use for
rounding. The last significant digit is .0.
(b) Cross out any other digit past the one significant digit, since they are not used in the rounding
calculation.
(c) To round, if the number past the significant digit is 5 or more, round your compliance number up; if
not, keep the number as is and report with the proper number of significant digits.
Use the digit to the right of the last significant digit of the compliance number, and round the answer.
= 3.0 mg/L.
2. A Pa. DEP drinking water system performed arsenic monitoring for 4 quarters; the drinking water MCL
for arsenic is 0.010 mg/L.
a. 0.014 mg/L
b. 0.013 mg/L
c. 0.012 mg/L
d. 0.031 mg/L
30
0.0163 mg/L + 0.0162 mg/L + 0.0104 mg/L + 0.0100 mg/L = 0.0529 mg/L = 0.013225 mg/L
4 4
Step 2:
(d) Go one number past the last significant digit and underline that number, which you will use for
rounding. The last significant digit is .000.
(e) Cross out any other digit past the one significant digit, since they are not used in the rounding
calculation.
(f) To round, if the number past the significant digit is 5 or more, round your compliance number up; if
not, keep the number as is and report with the proper number of significant digits.
Use the digit to the right of the last significant digit of the compliance number, and round the answer.
0.013225 0.013 (Note: this is an exceedance, since it is greater than 0.010 mg/L)
= 0.013 mg/L.
a. 20%
b. 200%
c. 8%
d. 0.08%
Answer: c. 8%
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RPD = 8%
An effluent sample is tested twice for a contaminant and the results obtained are 0.109 and 0.115 mg/L.
The relative percent difference for duplicate samples of this contaminant is required to be less than 10%. Is
the % difference between these duplicate levels acceptable?
a. Yes
b. No
Answer: a. Yes
a. 29.1 mg/L
b. 22.3 mg/L
c. 21.05 mg/L
d. 32.23 mg/L
32
Step 1: We find our formula (the % calculation from Chapter 2.)
%= Part x 100
Whole
Step 2: We determine what parts of the formula we know and what we don’t know:
% = 15%
Part = unknown
Whole = 25
Step 4: We make sure our unknown is on one side of the equation. Since it’s not, we work to cancel items
out from one side to the other.
25 x 1 5% = Part x 100 x 25
25
Part = 3.75
b. 22.3 mg/L is between 28.75 and 21.25, thus it would qualify as meeting the +/- 15% criteria
Unit 8 Exercise:
1. In order to produce a trend chart, data needs to be entered into a computer spreadsheet contained in a
graphical package such as Excel.
a. True
33
b. False
Answer: a. True
2. A standards curve is a graph of known concentrations that can be used to determine the concentrations
of the unknown.
a. True
b. False
Answer: a. True
3. The permit limit for a particular NPDES permit parameter is 1.0. Using EPA rounding principals, is a
calculated parameter of 1.06 a violation?
Answer: a. Yes
4. A duplicate analysis of a sample found results of 3 mg/L and 5 mg/L. What is the relative percent
difference of these results?
a. 50%
b. 0.08%
c. 80%
d. 0.05%
Answer: a. 50%
5. The standard method for a contaminant has an acceptance criteria for the LCS of +/- 5 %. If the known
value of the LCS is 30 mg/l, which of the following LCS sample results meets the acceptance criteria?
a. 36 mg/l
b. 35 mg/l
c. 29 mg/l
34
d. 25 mg/l
Answer: c. 29 mg/L
%=5
Part = unknown
Whole = 30
5 = Part x 100
30
Step 4: We make sure our unknown is on one side of the equation. Since it’s not, we work to cancel items
out from one side to the other.
30 x 5% = Part x 100 x 30
30
Part = 1.5
Therefore, 5% of 30 is 1.5
c. 29 mg/l is between 31.5 and 28.5, thus it would qualify as meeting the +/- 5% criteria
35
Unit 9
Unit 9 Answer Key:
Unit 9 Exercise:
1. In most cases, DMRs for NPDES permits must be received by the applicable Pa. DEP Regional Office
by the ______ day of the month following the monitoring period.
a. 1st
b. 10th
c. 28th
Ans: c. 28th
2. On the ____ day of each month as required by Chapter 109 of Title 25 of the Pennsylvania Code, all
drinking water data is cleared from DWELR and passed to the PADWIS for monthly compliance
processing.
a. 1st
b. 10th
c. 28th
Ans: b. 10th
Unit 10
Unit 10 Exercise:
36
1. Unless otherwise specified in regulation, how long must records required under Chapter 252 be
maintained?
a. 1 year
b. 3 years
c. 5 years
d. 10 years
Ans: c. 5 years
2. To avoid confusion, records should be edited in a way that the erases the original entry.
a. True
b. False
Ans: b. False
3. Records are to be kept electronically in an organized fashion, which allows laboratories to dispose of
original handwritten records.
a. True
b. False
Ans: b. False
4. An environmental laboratory shall submit a corrective action report to the Department within 60
business days from receipt of an onsite assessment report from the Pa. DEP where deficiencies have
been found.
a. True
b. False
Ans: b. False (the correct answer is 60 calendar days)
5. Laboratory supply receipt records need be maintained and include which of the following:
a. Date received
b. Vendor
c. Amount received
d. Expiration date
e. a through d
f. c and d
Ans: e. a through d
6. Which of the following need to be recorded once a day for each day in use for all laboratory activities?
37
a. incubator temperatures
c. refrigerator temperatures
d. freezer temperatures
7. On April 5, 2013, Annette pulled an unopened laboratory chemical bottle off the shelves and saw it did
not have an expiration date, but someone noted it had been purchased over 5 years prior during 1-2006;
she went ahead and used it in her chemical analysis. Was this chemical considered too old to be used?
a. Yes
b. No
8. The laboratory's QA plan should be readily available for inspection by auditors. On the other hand, the
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) do not need to be available, since the auditors would never look at
this information.
a. True
b. False
Ans: b. False (Both the laboratory's QA plan and appropriate Standard Operating Procedures
(SOPs) should be readily available for inspection by auditors.)
38