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Mohamed Elzagheid
Water Chemistry, Analysis and Treatment
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Mohamed Elzagheid
Water Chemistry,
Analysis and
Treatment
Pollutants, Microbial Contaminants, Water and
Wastewater Treatment
Author
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ibrahim Elzagheid
Chemical Engineering Department
Jubail Industrial College
Jubail Industrial City
Jubail 31961
Saudi Arabia
[email protected];
[email protected]
ISBN 978-3-11-133242-0
e-ISBN (PDF) 978-3-11-133246-8
e-ISBN (EPUB) 978-3-11-133261-1
www.degruyter.com
This book is dedicated to everyone who has worked day and night
to offer clean and safe water to people all across the world.
Preface
The book covers water chemistry, water sources, water pollutants, and microbiolog-
ical contaminants. Water chemistry principles are explained in a straightforward
manner. The book also looks at the theoretical foundations of several water treatment
and analysis processes, as well as stormwater management and green infrastructure.
This book would be useful for graduate and advanced undergraduate students, as
well as environmental researchers, chemists, and lab technicians working in water
and environmental laboratories. Because the bulk of books on the market are aimed
toward chemical engineers and operators, chemists and technicians alike can benefit
greatly from this book. The book's language is clear, short, and easy to understand for
all readers, including those with only a basic understanding of water chemistry.
I hope students, technicians, researchers, chemists, and scientists enjoy reading
this book and find what they need to further their education.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111332468-202
Acknowledgments
First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to my entire family for always as-
sisting and supporting me during my academic career.
I would also like to thank everyone in the Chemical Engineering Department at
Jubail Industrial College, and special thanks to those who joined me in teaching the
water and wastewater treatment course for regular students and Aramco company
trainees in Saudi Arabia, as well as my former colleagues at the water desalination
plant in north Benghazi, Libya.
Last but not least, a heartfelt thanks to the entire publishing team, particularly
Ute Skambraks, Helene Chavaroche, and Suruthi Manogarane whose assistance and
hard work cannot be overstated.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111332468-203
The Author
Mohamed Elzagheid is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at Jubail Industrial College (JIC), which is
affiliated with the Saudi Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu. He also serves as a professor and
consultant for the Libyan Authority for Scientific Research, which is associated with the Libyan Ministry of
Education.
During his 23-year career at McGill University, SynPrep Inc. in Montreal (Canada), and JIC in Saudi
Arabia, he was directly involved in the education of laboratory technicians and chemists, as well as
supervised many undergraduate and graduate chemistry students, and has significantly contributed to
numerous short-term and long-term training programs for chemistry-based laboratory technicians for
local companies in Saudi Arabia.
He also served on JIC's Research, Publications, Projects, and Academic Promotion Team; Academic
Promotion Committee; Curriculum Development Committee; Industrial Chemistry Technology Program
Advisory and Evaluation Committee; CTAB Steering Accreditation Committee; Industrial Outreach
Committee; and Chemical Engineering Department Safety Committee.
Dr. Elzagheid is the author of five textbooks that are now used to train chemistry-based technicians:
Introductory Organic Chemistry, Thoughts on Organic Chemistry, Macromolecular Chemistry: Natural and
Synthetic Polymers, Chemical Laboratory Safety and Techniques, and Chemical Technicians: Good Laboratory
Practice and Laboratory Information Management Systems.
His work at Turku University in Finland, McGill University in Canada, and JIC in the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia has helped him establish a solid name in chemistry and chemical education in general, as
evidenced by his research papers and publications.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111332468-204
Contents
Preface VII
Acknowledgments IX
The Author XI
Chapter 1
Introduction 1
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Water Importance 2
1.3 Safe Drinking Water Act 3
1.4 Water Contaminants or Pollutants 3
1.4.1 Contaminant Candidate List 4
1.5 Questions 7
Chapter 2
Water Chemistry 8
2.1 Properties of Water (Physical and Chemical Properties) 8
2.1.1 Density 8
2.1.2 Solubility 9
2.1.3 Polarity 10
2.1.4 Acid–Base Behavior 11
2.1.5 Water States 12
2.1.6 Water Redox Reaction (Water Redox Process) 13
2.1.7 Water’s Cohesive and Adhesive Properties 13
2.2 Hard Water 14
2.3 Soft Water 16
2.4 Heavy Water 16
2.5 Water Hydrates 17
2.6 Questions 18
Chapter 3
Water Sources 19
3.1 Natural Resources 19
3.2 Water Cycle 21
3.3 Water Supply 22
3.3.1 Surface Water 23
3.3.2 Groundwater 29
XIV Contents
3.3.3 Rainwater 34
3.4 Questions 35
Chapter 4
Water Pollution and Pollutants 36
4.1 Water Pollution 36
4.2 Water Pollution Causes 36
4.2.1 Agricultural Sector 36
4.2.2 Sewage and Wastewater 37
4.2.3 Oil Spills 38
4.2.4 Radioactive Waste 38
4.3 Pollution Impacted Water Type 40
4.3.1 Groundwater Pollution 40
4.3.2 Surface Water Pollution 41
4.4 Effects of Water Pollution 42
4.4.1 On Human Health 42
4.4.2 On the Environment 42
4.5 Water Pollutants 43
4.6 Questions 43
Chapter 5
Microbial Contaminants in Water 44
5.1 Water Consumption as a Source of Disease 44
5.1.1 Cholera 45
5.1.2 Salmonellosis 46
5.1.3 Shigellosis or Bacillary Dysentery 46
5.1.4 Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strains 48
5.2 Microbial Contaminants in Potable Drinking Water 48
5.3 Bottled Water Microbiology 49
5.3.1 Source Water 49
5.3.2 Water Treatment Before Bottling 49
5.4 Questions 50
Chapter 6
Water Analysis 51
6.1 Common Water Tests 51
6.1.1 Color, Odor, and Taste 51
6.1.2 Turbidity 53
6.1.3 Jar Test 55
6.1.4 pH Measurements 55
Contents XV
6.1.5 Alkalinity 56
6.1.6 Hardness 58
6.1.7 Residual Chlorine 60
6.1.8 Chlorides 63
6.1.9 Sulfates 63
6.1.10 Dissolved Oxygen 65
6.1.11 Total Dissolved Solids 66
6.1.12 Total Suspended Solids 67
6.1.13 Coliform Bacteria Test 67
6.2 Questions 71
Chapter 7
Water Quality 72
7.1 Parameters of Water Quality 73
7.1.1 Physical Parameters of Water Quality 73
7.1.2 Chemical Parameters of Water Quality 76
7.1.3 Biological Parameters of Water 77
7.2 Question 78
Chapter 8
Water Treatment 79
8.1 Drinking Water 79
8.2 Seawater 80
8.2.1 Distillation (Desalination) 80
8.2.2 Reverse Osmosis 80
8.2.3 Electrodialysis 81
8.2.4 Advantages of Seawater Desalination 82
8.2.5 Disadvantages of Seawater Desalination 82
8.3 Municipality and Industrial Water Waste 82
8.3.1 Sources 82
8.3.2 Methods of Treatment 83
8.3.3 Treatment Processes 83
8.4 Questions 84
Chapter 9
Water and Wastewater Treatment Techniques 85
9.1 Coagulation 85
9.1.1 Coagulants in Water Treatment 85
9.1.2 Coagulant Aids 86
9.2 Flocculation 86
XVI Contents
9.2.1 Flocculants 87
9.3 Sedimentation 88
9.3.1 Conventional Basins 89
9.3.2 High-Rate Basins 89
9.3.3 Sedimentation Influencing Factors 91
9.4 Softening 92
9.4.1 Softening Methods 93
9.5 Stabilization 97
9.5.1 Scale Formation or Deposition 99
9.5.2 Corrosion 99
9.5.3 Sequestration or Sequestering 101
9.5.4 CaCO3 Deposition Determination 101
9.6 Filtration 104
9.6.1 Granular Media (Bed) Filtration 104
9.6.2 Membrane Filtration 105
9.7 Disinfection 106
9.7.1 Chlorination 106
9.7.2 Chloramination 106
9.7.3 Chlorine Dioxide 108
9.7.4 Ultraviolet Light Water Treatment 108
9.7.5 Ozonation 108
9.7.6 Photocatalytic Disinfection 109
9.8 Fluoridation 110
9.9 Questions 110
Chapter 10
Stormwater Management and Green Infrastructure 111
10.1 Introduction 111
10.2 Types of Green Infrastructure 112
10.2.1 Green Roofs 112
10.2.2 Rain Gardens 113
10.2.3 Permeable Pavement 113
10.3 Questions 114
Chapter 11
Water as a Renewable Energy Source 116
11.1 Introduction 116
11.2 Endless Energy Sources 116
11.3 Natural Resources 116
11.4 Renewable Energy Resources 117
Contents XVII
Abbreviations 123
Index 129
Chapter 1
Introduction
1.1 Background
Water is a clear fluid that composes the world’s streams, lakes, oceans, and rain as
well as the primary component of organism fluids. A water molecule is a chemical
substance composed of one oxygen atom and two hydrogen atoms linked by covalent
bonds. At typical ambient temperature and pressure, water is a liquid, yet it coexists
on Earth alongside its solid state, ice, and its gaseous state, steam.
Liquid water is essential for life on Earth because it acts as a solvent. It can dis-
solve molecules and enable important chemical reactions in animals, plants, and mi-
crobial cells. Because of its chemical and physical properties, it can dissolve more
compounds than most other liquids. Every day, water is needed for a variety of pur-
poses. We need water for a variety of reasons, including drinking, washing, cleaning,
and cooking. There is no existence without water, and no life without air.
Water is locked up in the crystal lattices of minerals that make up rocks; it occurs
in the innumerable microscopic pore spaces of rocks, from the surface to depths of
over 5 km. Water is a simple enough substance, consisting of two hydrogens and one
oxygen, yet it has some fascinating and essential features. Water’s boiling and freez-
ing temperatures are particularly high in comparison to other compounds of equal
molecular weight, allowing it to exist at the Earth’s surface in all three phases: solid,
liquid, and vapor.
Although water is in a continuous cycle on Earth, it is consumed before it com-
pletes its cycle due to population expansion, environmental pollution, cost, mindless
water usage, and climatic variations. It becomes increasingly challenging to obtain ag-
ricultural, industrial, drinking, and utility water.
Water, as a natural resource, is required for all living species to survive. The
amount of water on the Earth’s surface, however, is limited. The world’s 1.4 billion km3
of water is made up of 97.5% saline water and 2.5% fresh water. The percentage of
freshwater distribution is 69.5% for polar glaciers, 30.1% for groundwater, and 0.4%
for surface water resources.
In addition to issues with the number of freshwater supplies, there have also
been issues concerning water quality on a worldwide scale. Rapid population expan-
sion, technological advancements, urbanization, and global climate change are the
primary causes of the deterioration of natural resources in terms of quantity and
quality.
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111332468-001
2 Chapter 1 Introduction
Water is essential for people and our prosperity. Because of its high dielectric con-
stant, it is regarded as a universal solvent. Water accounts for about 60% of an adult’s
body weight on average ranging from 31% in bones to 83% in the lungs. Water per-
forms numerous critical functions in the body, including waste removal, temperature
regulation, nutrition transfer, and digestion. Water is the best hydrator for the body.
It also moisturizes the tissues around the eyes, nose, and mouth. It safeguards the
body’s organs and tissues. It transports nutrients and oxygen to cells. Joint lubricant.
Draining away waste materials reduces the stress on the kidneys and liver. Drinking
water has many health benefits, some are illustrated in Figure 1.1.
Prevents dehydration
Water is required by all living organisms including humans, plants, and animals to
survive. It is actually necessary for life on the Earth to continue. Human bodies re-
quire water to help regulate body temperature and sustain all critical processes. Due
to the body’s loss of water through breathing, sweating, and digesting, it is vital to
rehydrate and replenish water through beverages and foods containing water. Water
is the most abundant component of saliva. It is required for the digestion of solid
foods and the maintenance of oral health.
Maintaining a normal body temperature requires staying hydrated. When we
sweat or are in a hot environment, our bodies lose water. Sweating keeps our bodies
cool, but if we don’t replenish the water we lose, our body temperatures rise. Dehy-
dration results from a lack of water, which causes electrolyte and plasma levels to
decline. Proper hydration is essential for maintaining optimal brain health. Inade-
quate water consumption has a negative impact on our focus, alertness, and short-
term memory. Water helps to lubricate and cushion our joints, spinal cord, and tis-
sues. This pushes us to be more physically active and relieves the pain produced by
1.4 Water Contaminants or Pollutants 3
disorders such as arthritis. We all need water to restore fluids lost via sweating.
Drinking enough water assists our kidneys to function more efficiently, lowering the
risk of kidney stones.
It is critical to drink plenty of water while working out, participating in sports, or
simply being active. Keeping hydrated has an impact on our strength, power, and en-
durance. Water assists to increase our metabolic rate. Exercising in the heat without
staying hydrated can lead to major medical complications. In fact, severe dehydration
can result in convulsions and, in some cases, death. Dehydration occurs when the
body does not receive enough water. And, because water is essential for the proper
functioning of many biological functions, dehydration can be quite harmful. It can
even have fatal implications. Severe dehydration can have significant consequences.
Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration.
The WHO standards for safe drinking water employ a daily per capita consumption
value of 2 L of drinking water for adults weighing 60 kg in the computation. A 10-kg child
is considered to drink 1 L of water per day, while a 5 kg infant consumes 0.75 L/ day. The
potable water that can be given to the user is suitable for drinking, food preparation,
personal hygiene, and washing. At the point of supply to the consumers, this water must
meet the requisite chemical, biological, and physical quality criteria. Any country’s Safe
Drinking Water Act is intended to ensure reliable and safe drinking water supplies while
also protecting public health by regulating public water systems. This necessitates the for-
mulation and enforcement of standards for public drinking water systems. To control
water quality, we should consider controlling:
– microbiological caliber,
– chemical efficiency,
– by-products of disinfection and disinfectants,
– by-products of corrosion,
– chemicals used in agriculture,
– organic substances that are volatile, and
– radionuclides are radioactive unstable chemical elements that emit radiation as
they degrade and become more stable. Radionuclides include radium-226, cesium-
137, and strontium-90.
The term “contaminant” in the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) is defined as any
physical, chemical, biological, or radiological substance or matter in water. As a re-
sult, the legislation defines “contaminant” broadly as anything other than water mole-
4 Chapter 1 Introduction
Acanthamoeba
Coxsackieviruses Adenoviruses
Microsporidia
sible to the MCLG where the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which
there is no known or anticipated risk to health. These standards are based on treat-
ment technologies, affordability, and other factors that are feasible, such as the avail-
ability of analytical methods and treatment technology.
The examination of the negative effects brought on by the substance in question
and the doses required to bring about such effects is the first step in establishing an
1.5 Questions 7
MCL. The end result of this procedure is a reference dose (RfD), a safe dose based on
research findings that have been extrapolated to humans from outcomes of animal tests.
MCLG is created for substances that don’t cause cancer by first translating the
safe dosage into a water concentration. Then, on the supposition that exposure to the
chemical by drinking water represents just one-fifth of all possible exposure, this
number is divided by five. The MCLG number is often the same as the MCL in most
situations.
The MCLG is set at zero for substances that are thought to cause cancer, meaning
that no level of the substance is thought to be acceptable. The MCL is based on the
lowest concentration that can be consistently measured because 0 cannot be mea-
sured. The MCL is the lowest measured level for known or suspected carcinogens, not
a safe level.
A number equivalent to the MCLG is determined for substances that are poten-
tially carcinogenic, that is, there is some evidence that they might cause cancer, but
this is not particularly compelling. The final MCLG is obtained by dividing this value
by a factor of 10. This offers an additional level of safety in the event that the sub-
stance is ultimately shown to be carcinogenic.
1.5 Questions
1.5.1 What are the percentages of saline and fresh water in the world?
1.5.2 List three health benefits of drinking water.
1.5.3 Define chemical contaminants.
1.5.4 Give four examples of chemical contaminants.
1.5.5 Draw the chemical structures of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, 1,2,4-trimethylben-
zene, and terbufos.
1.5.6 Give examples of disinfection by-products.
1.5.7 What does MCLG stand for?
1.5.8 Give three examples of microbial contaminants.
1.5.9 Define MCL.
1.5.10 What is the reference dose (RfD)?
Chapter 2
Water Chemistry
The earth is mostly made up of water (H2O). Almost everything, including drinking,
bathing, and cooking, requires water. Water makes up 60–70% of the human body.
The survival of life on Earth depends on water. The earth’s surface is unevenly cov-
ered in water. It dissolves practically all polar solutes and creates a significant sol-
vent. At room temperature, water is a polar inorganic substance that is a tasteless,
odorless liquid and is almost colorless. It is referred to as the “universal solvent” and
the “solvent of life” and is by far the chemical compound that has been investigated
the most. It is the most prevalent substance on Earth’s surface and the only one that
can be found as solid, liquid, and gas at the same time. Aside from carbon monoxide
and molecular hydrogen, it is the third most prevalent molecule in the cosmos.
Water molecules are highly polar and form hydrogen bonds with one another.
Because of its polarity, it can dissolve other polar substances such as alcohols and
acids by interacting with them and dissociating the ions in salts. Its hydrogen bonding
is responsible for several of its distinguishing properties, including a less dense solid
form than its liquid form, a fairly high boiling point of 100 °C for its molar mass, and
a large heat capacity. Water is amphoteric, which implies that it can exhibit acidic or
basic properties depending on the pH of the solution. Because of its amphoteric na-
ture, it undergoes a process of self-ionization. Figure 2.1 summarizes the unique fea-
tures of water. Water molecules have multiple hydrogen bonds, which results in
distinct properties when condensed. As a result, the melting and boiling points are
both very high. Other liquids have lower specific heat, thermal conductivity, surface
tension, and dipole moment than water. These qualities support its significance in the
biosphere. Water assists in the transfer of ions and molecules required for metabo-
lism. It has a high latent heat of vaporization, which helps regulate body temperature.
2.1.1 Density
The weight of water per unit volume, which fluctuates with temperature, is the defini-
tion of water’s density. Grams per cubic centimeter, or 1 g/cm3, is roughly how dense
the water is. It responds to changes in temperature. Although liquid water, like other
liquids, generally thickens as it is chilled at room temperature, pure water is thought
to reach its maximum density at roughly 4 °C. It expands and loses density as the cool-
ing process continues. This exceptional negative thermal expansion is the result of
strong intermolecular interactions. Water lacks an absolute density due to its temper-
ature-dependent density. It is denser in the liquid state than in the solid state. The
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783111332468-002
2.1 Properties of Water (Physical and Chemical Properties) 9
°C .
°C .
°C .
°C .
°C .
°C .
°C .
°C .
°C .
°C .
°C .
°C .
– °C .
– °C .
– °C .
density of water varies with temperature. The density (in g/cm3) of water for various
temperature ranges (from 100 to −30 °C) is given in Table 2.1.
2.1.2 Solubility
is poorly soluble in aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons but miscible with polar solvents
such as acetonitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethoxyethane, dimethylformamide, acetalde-
hyde, sulfolane, tetrahydrofuran, 1,4-dioxane, glycerol, acetone, isopropanol, propanol,
ethanol, and methanol. Salt and sugar, for example, dissolve in water. Warm or hot
water usually dissolves them faster and better. Water also provides a vital life-sustaining
force that functions at the biological level by assisting cells in transporting and utilizing
substances like oxygen or nutrients. Figure 2.2 depicts a simple solubility curve that is
commonly used to calculate the mass of solute in 100 g (or 100 mL) of water at a given
temperature. When it reaches the line, it has become saturated and cannot hold any
more solute. Below the line indicates unsaturation and the ability to store more solute.
Above the line, the solute concentration is higher than it should be.
Supersaturated
Solute in grams per
100 grams of water Saturated
Unsaturated
Temperature
2.1.3 Polarity
One of the most important characteristics of water is that it is a polar molecule, with
the hydrogen and oxygen in water molecule (H2O) forming polar covalent bond. The
polarity of a water molecule results in a slightly positive charge on hydrogen and a
slightly negative charge on oxygen despite the fact that a water molecule has no net
charge. Because oxygen is more electronegative than hydrogen, a shared electron is
more likely to be located there than close to the hydrogen nucleus, which results in a
partial negative charge near the oxygen.
Due to the polarity of water, nearby water molecules are pulled to one another by
their opposing charges and form hydrogen bonds. Water also attracts or repels other
polar molecules and ions as shown in Figure 2.3. A polar chemical that easily interacts
with or dissolves in water is said to be hydrophilic. Hydro- is the prefix for “water,” and -
philic is the suffix for “loving.” Oils and fats, which are non-polar substances, do not mix
well with water and separate from it rather than dissolve in it. These nonpolar substan-
ces are referred to as hydrophobic (hydro- = “water” and -phobic = “fearing”) substances.
2.1 Properties of Water (Physical and Chemical Properties) 11
O
H H Covalent bonds H Carboxylic acid
O Hydrogen bond H O C R
H H H H O H H
Primary amine
N R
O O H
Covalent bonds Hydrogen bond
O R
water molecules
When water can operate as both an acid and a base in solution, it can become both an
acid and a base to itself during the autoionization process as shown in Figure 2.4.
Water absorbs hydrogen ions and behaves as a base when combined with an acid.
When water is combined with a base, it behaves like an acid because hydrogen ions
are produced.
H+
O
OH-
H+
O
O H+
O OH-
H+
O O
OH-
The hydrogen (H+) ions in acids are what cause their acidic nature. In the presence of
water, they release hydrogen ions. The fact that water is a polar solvent aids in breaking
down the link between the ions and making them soluble. On the other hand, when
12 Chapter 2 Water Chemistry
placed in water, bases draw hydrogen atoms. Sodium hydroxide, or NaOH, is an illustra-
tion of a base. Hydrogen ions are drawn to it when it is submerged in water, and as hy-
droxyl (OH−) ions build up, a basic or alkaline solution is created. Figure 2.5 illustrates the
amphoteric characteristic of water, which can function as both an acid and a base.
The ability of liquid water to generate hydrogen bonds is a significant property that is
essential to life. Since living organisms have a high-water content, understanding
these chemical traits is essential to understanding life. As water molecules form hy-
drogen bonds with one another, the water acquires several distinct chemical proper-
ties compared to other liquids. As the water molecules flow by one another in liquid
water, hydrogen bonds are continuously made and broken. These bonds are broken
as a result of the water molecules moving because of the heat in the system, which
gives them kinetic energy. The hydrogen bonds between water molecules entirely dis-
solve when the heat is increased during the boiling process, allowing water molecules
to escape into the air as gas (steam or water vapor). However, as the temperature of
water drops and it freezes, the water molecules create a crystalline structure that is
sustained by hydrogen bonds, which results in ice that is less dense than liquid water,
a phenomenon that is not observed when other liquids solidify. Since the hydrogen
bonds between water molecules are forced away when it freezes, the solid form of
water has a lower density than liquid water. When the temperature drops, the kinetic
energy between molecules in the majority of other liquids also decreases, allowing
the molecules to pack even more closely than they would in liquid form and providing
the solid a higher density than the liquid. Because of its unusually low density, ice
floats at the surface of liquid water, as seen in icebergs and ice cubes in ice water. Ice
that accumulates on the surface of lakes and ponds functions as an insulator, keeping
2.1 Properties of Water (Physical and Chemical Properties) 13
animals and plant life from freezing. Plants and animals in the pond would freeze in
the solid block of ice and die if this layer of insulating ice was not present.
When molecular hydrogen (H2) is oxidized by molecular oxygen (O2) to form water
(H2O), the reaction can be thought of as two coupled processes, as shown in Figure 2.6:
electron transfer from hydrogen to oxygen (reduction of oxygen) and electron accep-
tance from hydrogen by oxygen (oxidation of hydrogen). The oxidizing agent is oxy-
gen, and the reducing agent is hydrogen.
Water splitting is the process by which two molecules of water are broken down
into their basic elements: two molecules of hydrogen gas (H2) and one molecule of
oxygen gas (O2). The overall breakdown of water into oxygen and hydrogen is the
same whether either half reaction pair is combined. The amount of hydrogen pro-
duced is double that of oxygen.
The importance of redox reactions in aqueous solutions in biological and environ-
mental systems cannot be overstated. They support and sustain life by collecting and
dispersing energy in order to develop and spread low-entropy living systems.
H
O O O
H
2H2O → 2H2 + O2 Total Reaction +
+
H H
H
H H
O
H
When a glass of water is filled to the brim and then a few drips are carefully added
till the glass overflows, the water forms a dome-like shape above the rim. This water
can float over the glass due to its cohesion. In this case, water molecules are attracted
to each other due to hydrogen bonding, which keeps the molecules together at the
water-air interface.
14 Chapter 2 Water Chemistry
Meniscus
Water "climbs" up the tube
Capillary Tube higher on the sides of the
tube than in the center
Water
Cohesive and adhesive forces also influence water transfer from a plant’s roots to its
leaves. Water molecules that evaporate from the plant’s surface remain attached to
water molecules below them, causing them to be dragged along. Plants employ this
natural process to help move water from the roots to the leaves. Plants would be un-
able to receive the water and dissolved minerals they require if these water qualities
were not present. Due to surface tension, aquatic insects such as water striders can
also float on the water’s surface.
Hard water contains a high concentration of mineral ions. The metal cations, calcium
(Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+), are the most prevalent ions found in hard water, while
iron (Fe2+), aluminum (Al3+), and manganese (Mn2+) may also be present in some re-
gions (Figure 2.8). These metals are water soluble, which means they dissolve in
water. These ions’ relatively large concentrations can saturate the solution, causing
2.2 Hard Water 15
Aluminum
Magnesium Ca2+ Fe 2+ Al 3+ Mg 2+
Mn 2+
the equilibrium of these solutes to move to the left, toward reactants. In other words,
the ions have the ability to precipitate out of the solution. The calcination, or precipi-
tation of calcium or magnesium carbonate, visible on water faucets is caused by the
displacement of minerals from the solution. Furthermore, hard water can react with
other substances in a solution, such as soap, to form a precipitate known as “scum.”
There are two forms of hard water: temporary and permanent. Temporary hard
water is made up mostly of calcium (Ca2+) and bicarbonate (HCO3−) ions. The bicar-
bonate ion in temporary hard water decomposes upon heating into carbonate ions
(CO32−), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O). The carbonate ion (CO32−) formed can
then combine with other ions in the solution to generate insoluble compounds such
as CaCO3 and MgCO3. The interactions of carbonate ions in solution also generate the
well-known mineral build-up visible on the sides of boiling pots, rust known as “boiler
scale.” The breakdown of the bicarbonate ion caused by increasing the temperature
of transient hard water represents a shift in the equilibrium equation. This shift is
responsible for the white scale seen in the boiling containers as well as the mineral
deposits that form inside water pipes, resulting in inefficiency and, in extreme cases,
explosion due to overheating. Because CaCO3 or other scale is relatively insoluble, it
does not entirely dissolve back into the water when cooled. As a result, this form of
hard water is considered “temporary” since boiling can alleviate the hardness by re-
moving the problematic ions from the solution.
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Andes the petroleum is of high grade. Samples of oil from Espejos
Spring, 12 leagues from Santa Cruz, indicate the quality expected
north to the Madre de Dios. This has 78 per cent kerosene, 17
lubricating oil, and 4 per cent coke. From indications it is believed
that gushers would come by boring to proper depth. It is said that
deposits of good quality are indicated at Calacoto on the Arica
Railway, a continuation of the Titicaca fields of Peru. These are
obviously much more accessible but less assured.
Mining properties of various kinds may be acquired and worked to
good advantage, some with a moderate outlay of capital; with larger
returns, naturally, from greater expenditure for the best equipment
and more extensive properties. There is work for centuries.
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Rivers
The rivers of the country are numerous except in the north, where
but two reach the ocean. Farther south to 35° they are torrential in
character, but important both for irrigation and as a potential source
of hydro-electric power; their descent from so great a height
indicating large future possibilities. Beyond 35° a number of streams
are navigable for some distance for boats of light draught, 500 miles
in all, the Bio-Bio for 100 miles, the Maule for 75. South of these
rivers are many picturesque and important lakes close to the
Cordillera where they serve as great reservoirs for the excessive
precipitation of rain and snow on the west side of the mountains. The
largest are Lakes Rauco and Llanquihue, with estimated areas
respectively of 200 and 250 square miles. Lake Todos los Santos, 40
square miles, described as of marvelous beauty, is northeast of
Puerto Montt among the Andean foothills, at a height of 500 feet.
The seaboard at the north, with few indentations, has in
consequence poor harbors, where landing in small boats may
occasionally be dangerous or impossible. In the far south are
sheltered harbors, but few cities requiring them.
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