Pre-laboratory questions

1. For a natural water sample, what range of dissolved oxygen concentrations may you

expect? Explain your reasoning.

Answer: In common water there can be green growth and vegetation that reduce the dissolved

oxygen. The dissolved oxygen levels of lower than 3 mg/L is stressful to fish and dissolved oxygen

levels lower between 2 and 1 mg/L will not support survival for sea creatures. Therefore, reduced

oxygen can extend from basically zero up to saturation for the temperature of the water. At zero-

degree Celsius, disintegrated oxygen has its most prominent solvency of 5.4 to 14.8 mg/L.

2. How does the dissolved oxygen concentration in a water sample change (if at all) with

a. ambient temperature changes?

Answer: the dissolved oxygen concentration in a water sample change in an inverse relation when

ambient temperature change.

b. atmospheric pressure changes?

Answer: the dissolved oxygen concentration in a water sample change in a direct relation when

atmospheric pressure change.

c. the volume of the flask collecting the water sample?

Answer: the dissolved oxygen concentration in a water sample change in a straight manner.

d. the amount of organic matter in the water sample?

Answer: the dissolved oxygen concentration in a water sample change in a reverse manner.

e. the depth of the body of water (e.g., lake, river, or ocean)?

Answer: the dissolved oxygen concentration in a water sample also changes in an inverse relation.

3. Experimental Procedure, Part A.1. A 100-mL volume of a primary standard 0.0110 M

KIO3 solution is prepared. A 25.0-mL aliquot of this solution is used to standardize a

solution to the starch endpoint. What is the molar concentration of the Na2 S2 O3 solution?

IO3− (𝑎𝑞) + 8I− (𝑎𝑞) + 6H + (𝑎𝑞) → 3I3− (𝑎𝑞) + 3H2 O(𝑙)

I3− (𝑎𝑞) + 2S2 O2− + − 2−

Answer: 1 mole of KIO3 gives 3 moles of I3− and 1 mole I3− requires 2 moles of S2O32-

Formula: M1V1 = M2V2

M2 = 25 (0.011/15.6) = 0.01763M

4. Experimental Procedure, Part A.2. What is the procedure for preparing 250 mL of 0.0210

M Na2 S2 O3 for this experiment from a 100-mL volume of standard 0.106 M Na2 S2 O3 ?

Answer: Formula: M1V1 = M2V2

V2 = 250 (0.0210/0.106) = 49.52mL

By taking 49.52 mL of 0.106M solution and dilute it up to 250 mL by adding water.

5. Standard 0.025 M Na2 S2 O3 Solution

1. Sample volume (mL) 200.0

2. Buret reading, initial (mL) 3.85

3. Buret reading, final (mL) 18.25

4. Volume of Na2 S2 O3 dispensed (mL) 14.4

5. Average molar concentration of

6. Moles of Na2 S2 O3 dispensed (mol) 0.0003067

7. Moles of I3− reduced by S2 O2−

8. Moles of O2 (mol) 0.00007668

9. Mass of O2 (mg) 2.454

Calculation Zone

Volume of Na2 S2 O3 dispensed (mL) = 18.25mL – 3.85mL = 14.4 mL

Moles of Na2 S2 O3 dispensed (mol) = 14.4 mL (0.0213mol / 1000mL ) = 0.0003067molNa2 S2 O3

Moles of I3− reduced by S2 O2−

 2Na2S2O3 ≡ I3-

2 mol ≡ 1mol

0.0003067 mol = ½ (0.0003067 mol) =0.0001534 mol

Moles of O2 (mol)

 4 mol S2 O3 -- ≡ 1 mol O2

0.0003067 mol = ¼ (0.0003067 mol) = 0.00007668 mol

Mass of O2 (mg)

Mass of O2 = (moles of O2 ) (molar mass of O2)

0.00007668 mol = 32g/mol

0.002454g x 1000mg = 2.454 mg

Dissolved oxygen, ppm O2 (mg/L): Sample Volume = 200 mL  0.200L

0.200 L water contains 2.454 mg O2

1L of water contains (2.454 mg / 0.200 L) x 1L = 12.27mg

Dissolved O2 = 12.27 mg/L

5.b For Trials 2 and 3, the dissolved oxygen levels were 10.9 ppm and 11.1ppm respectively.

a. What is the average dissolved oxygen level in the water sample?

PPT = parts per thousand = 1g = 1000 parts

𝑔 𝑔
𝑍𝑛 𝑝𝑝𝑡 = 0.427 ×
𝑔 1000𝑔

𝑍𝑛 𝑝𝑝𝑡 = 0.427 × 10−3 𝑔/𝑘𝑔

b. What are the standard deviation and relative standard deviation (%RSD) of the dissolved

oxygen level in the water sample.

∑(𝑥−𝑥̅ )2
Standard Deviation = √ 𝑛

(0.426 − 0.427)2 + (0.417 − 0.427)2 + (0.431 − 0.427)2 + (0.428 − 0.427)2 + (0.429 − 0.427)2 + (0.433 − 0.427)2
√
6

= 0.00561

𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 100
𝑥̅
0.00561
𝑅𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑆𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑑 𝐷𝑒𝑣𝑖𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 = × 100
0.429
Relative Standard Deviation = 1.3

Dissolved Oxygen Levels in Natural Waters Report Sheet

A. Sample Analysis
 1. Sample volume (mL) 500 mL

2. Buret reading, initial (mL) 25 mL

3. Buret reading, final (mL) 18.5 mL

4. Volume Na2 S2 O3 dispensed (mL) 6.5 mL

5. Molar concentration of Na2 S2 O3 (mol/L) 0.02448M

6. Moles of Na2 S2 O3 dispensed 0.0001617 mol

7. Moles of I3− reduced by S2 O2−

8. Moles of O2 (mol) 0.000040425 mol

9. Mass of O2 (mg) 1.2936 mg

10.Dissolved oxygen, ppm O2 (mg/L) 6.468 mg/L

Calculation Zone:

Volume Na2 S2 O3 dispensed (mL): 25 mL – 18.5mL = 6.5 mL

0.02488 𝑀
Moles of Na2 S2 O3 dispensed: 6. 5 𝑚𝑙 × = 0.0001617 mol
1000 𝑚𝐿

1
Moles of I3− reduced by S2 O2−
3 – (mol): 0.0001617 mol × = 0.00008085 mol
2

2 1
Moles of O2 (mol): 0.00008085 mol × × = 0.000040425 mol
1 4

32 𝑔 1000 𝑚𝑔
Mass of O2 (mg): 0.000040425 mol × × = 1.2936 mg
1 𝑚𝑜𝑙 1𝑔

𝑚𝑔𝑂2 1.2936 𝑚𝑔
Dissolved oxygen, ppm O2 (mg/L): 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑠𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑂2 = = 1𝐿 = 6.468 mg/L
𝐿 𝑠𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑙𝑒 200 𝑚𝐿 ×
1000 𝑚𝐿
Laboratory Questions

1. Part B. The water chemist waits until returning to the laboratory to fix the water sample for

the dissolved oxygen analysis. Will the reported dissolved oxygen concentration be

reported as too high, too low, or remain unchanged? Explain.

Answer: The reported dissolved oxygen concentration will be reported as too low, as some of the

dissolved oxygen molecules will escape from the sample. This is caused by various factors, such

as organic materials, for instance, that are present in the water sample consuming the oxygen. If

the oxygen is not fixed in the precipitate, its amount will continually deplete, hence the lower

amount recorded.

2. Part B.3. A solution of MnSO4 is added to fix the dissolved oxygen in the collected sample.

a. What is the meaning of the expression, “fix the dissolved oxygen,” and why is it so

important for the analysis of dissolved oxygen in a water sample?

Answer: Fixing the oxygen means trapping it in the precipitate formed by adding the Manganese

Sulfate in the solution. This method prevents the dissolved oxygen from escaping or, in other

words, trapping them in the solution. This is important because by fixing the oxygen, the accuracy

of its dissolved amount is ensured, thus increasing the probability of accurate laboratory results.

b. Only an approximate volume (~1 mL) of MnSO4 is required for fixing the dissolved

oxygen in the sample. Explain why an exact volume is not critical.

Answer: An exact volume of Manganese Sulfate is not critical because in fixing the dissolved

oxygen, the Manganese Sulfate is the excess reactant and the Oxygen is the limiting reactant.

3. Part B.4. No precipitate forms! Assuming the reagents were properly prepared and

dispensed into the sample, what might be predicted about its dissolved oxygen

concentration? Explain.
Answer: The precipitate forms when the oxygen molecules react with Manganese Sulfate. If no

precipitate forms, assuming the proper preparation of the reagents, it means that there is extremely

little to no presence of dissolved oxygen in the water sample.

4. Part B.5. A water chemist measured and recorded the air temperature at 27°C when he

should have measured the water temperature, which was only 21°C. As a result of this

error, will the dissolved oxygen concentration be reported as being higher or lower than it

should be? Explain.

Answer: Temperature is inversely proportional with the concentration of dissolved oxygen. If the

recorded temperature was too high as compared to its true value, the recorded concentration of

dissolved oxygen would be too low.

5. Part C.3. The color of the analyte did not fade to form the light yellow-brown color but

remained intense even after the addition of a full buret of the S2 O2−
3 titrant, even though a

precipitate formed in Part B.4. What can be stated about the dissolved oxygen

concentration of the sample? Explain.

Answer: The reason why this happened is because they did not add the S2 O2−
3 titrant gradually,

instead they poured it all at once that's why it resulted to a different color

6. Assuming a dissolved oxygen concentration of 7.0 ppm (mg/L) in a 200-mL water sample,

a. how many moles of Mn(OH)3 will be produced with the addition of the MnSO4

solution? Answer: 1.4 mol

b. how many moles of I3– will be produced when the KI-NaN3 solution is added to the

above solution? Answer: 0.467 mol

c. how many moles of S2O32– will be needed to react with the I3– that is generated?

Answer: 0.021 mol

milliliters of titrant will be predictably used for the analysis. Answer: 0.046 M

7. A nonscientist brings a water sample to your laboratory and asks you to determine why

there was a fish kill in the nearby lake. Having recently finished this experiment, what

might you tell that person about the legitimacy of a test for dissolved oxygen? What

reasoning would you use to maintain the integrity of your laboratory?

Answer: Marine animals also need oxygen in order to survive, they acquire oxygen from the

water since water contains dissolved oxygen. Dissolved oxygen is basically oxygen that are

dissolved in water. The amount of oxygen in water that stays dissolved depends water

conditions like the saltiness and the temperature of water. It is important to test for dissolved

oxygen to determine if the water is healthy or has a high amount of dissolved oxygen.

8. A. Fish kills are often found near the discharge point of water from cooling waters at

electrical generating power plants. Explain why this occurrence may occur.

Answer: Electrical generating power plants found in bodies of water heats up the surroundings,

thus increasing water temperature. If the water temperature increases, dissolved oxygen molecules

from the water would rapidly move, making it easier for them to escape the water. Since the marine

life also depends on the oxygen in the water, they would die they are near these power plants.

B. Fish kills are often found in streams following heavy rainfall in a watershed dominated by

farmland or denuded forestland. Explain why this occurrence may occur.

Answer: Fish kills are often found in streams following heavy rainfall in a watershed dominated

by farmland or denuded forestland, because waters in nearby farmlands are usually polluted by

chemicals or other particles that occupies space in the water, and if there is no space in the water,

there would be no space for dissolved oxygen molecules.

of a river and ending at the ocean. Account for the changes.

Answer: The amount of dissolved oxygen would be high from the headwaters of a river and would

decrease as it reaches the ending of an ocean, since the level of saltiness will increase as water

flows from the rivers to the oceans, and the amount of dissolved oxygen relies on the saltiness of

water. If there is too much salt in the water, there would be less space for the dissolved oxygen

molecules.

10. Salt (ocean) water generally has a lower dissolved oxygen concentration than freshwater

at a given temperature. Explain why this is generally observed.

Answer: One of the factors that affects the amount of dissolved oxygen in the water is temperature.

If the water temperature is too high, the dissolved oxygen molecules would rapidly vibrate making

it easier for them to escape from the water. Since the ocean is warmer than the fresh water, it has

a lower dissolved oxygen concentration.