86 Questions
What is the scientific name for water?
Dihydrogen monoxide
At what temperature does water reach its maximum density?
3.98 °C
What is the color of water and ice in small quantities?
Colorless
What is the boiling point of water at the top of Mt. Everest?
68 °C
What is the property of water that makes it a good solvent?
It is a universal solvent
Ingestion of lead in children is approximately what percentage compared to adults?
50%
What is the most common metallic poison?
Lead (Pb)
Which activity could lead to inhalation of lead particles?
Smelting
What effect may lead exposure have on the central nervous system (CNS)?
Lead encephalopathy
What may ingestion of lead-contaminated water result from?
Leaded pipes
What percentage of Earth's water is fresh?
Less than 3%
How long can a person survive without water?
About a week
Which mountain is actually taller than Mount Everest if measured from the ocean floor to its summit?
Mauna Kea in Hawaii
In what forms is water naturally found on Earth?
Liquid, gas, and solid
What is the study of water and its movement in the hydrological cycle called?
Hydrology
What are the sources of suspended solids in water?
Inorganic material, organic material, and human water use
What is the impact of high turbidity in water?
Interference with light penetration and photosynthetic reactions
Which parameter is essential for water quality assessment?
Measurement of total suspended solids
What can affect the water color?
Dissolved and suspended components from natural and industrial sources
What can cause taste and odor in water?
Minerals, metals, salts, and organic substances
What is the upper limit of TDS for saline waters?
5000 mg/L
What level of fluoride can cause bone fluorosis?
5 mg/L
Which metal can cause health hazards in excessive concentration due to bitter taste?
Sodium
Which metal is non-toxic and can be found in water?
Copper
Which measurement technique can be used for determining TDS in water?
Spectrophotometric and chemical titration using EDTA
What effect does a 10°C temperature increase have on biological activity if nutrients are present?
It doubles biological activity
How does high electrical conductivity in water relate to contaminant levels?
High conductivity indicates high contaminant levels
What effect does pH levels outside the safe range have on aquatic life?
It negatively affects aquatic life
What is the origin of alkalinity in water?
It originates from mineral substances
What is the primary cause of acidity in water?
Carbon dioxide and mineral acids
What is the maximum density temperature of water?
3.98°C
What is the color of water and ice in small quantities?
Colorless
What is the boiling point of water at the top of Mt. Everest?
68°C
What is the scientific name for water?
Dihydrogen monoxide
What is the most important chronic environmental illness affecting children?
Lead poisoning
What may lead exposure cause in children due to its direct effect on the CNS?
Lead encephalopathy
What is the primary method of lead exposure through ingestion in children?
Drinking water from leaded pipes
What may ingestion of lead-contaminated water result in, besides other effects?
Hyperuricemia
What does electrical conductivity measure in a water sample?
Ability to conduct electrical currents
What is the primary cause of alkalinity in water?
Mineral dissolution
What is the main cause of acidity in water?
Carbon dioxide and mineral acids
What is the sum of temporary and permanent hardness in water known as?
Total hardness
What is the effect of very low or high pH on aquatic life?
Can be fatal, affecting fish eggs, gills, and membranes
What affects the taste, chlorine disinfection, and aquatic life in water?
pH
What is the main cause of hardness in water?
Magnesium and calcium ions from soil and rock contact
What can result from industrial waste heat in water?
Temperature changes impacting biological activity
What does acidity in water influence?
Corrosion and biological processes
What does alkalinity measure in water?
Ability to neutralize acids
What is the ability of water to neutralize acids influenced by?
Mineral dissolution and microbial decomposition
What can affect the solubility and toxicity of heavy metals in water?
Changes in pH
What is the residue left after water filtration called?
Total Dissolved Solids (TDS)
What level of fluoride can cause tooth discoloration?
2.0 mg/L
Which of the following can cause a bitter taste and health hazards in excessive concentration?
Sodium
Which measurement techniques are used for determining TDS in water?
Spectrophotometric and chemical titration using EDTA
What is the upper limit of TDS for saline waters?
5000 mg/L
Which of the following metals can accumulate in the body and cause health hazards?
Cadmium
What is the salinity level of brackish water?
Up to 5000 mg/L
Which of the following can cause bone fluorosis?
5.0 mg/L fluoride
What can cause tooth discoloration?
High levels of fluoride
What is the primary cause of acidity in water?
Organic compounds
Which of the following is a toxic heavy metal?
Lead
Which of the following can cause a bitter taste and health hazards in excessive concentration?
Sodium
What percentage of Earth's water is fresh?
Less than 3%
How long can a person survive without water?
About a week
In what forms is water naturally found on Earth?
Liquid, gas, and solid
What is the study of water and its movement in the hydrological cycle called?
Hydrology
Which mountain is actually taller than Mount Everest if measured from the ocean floor to its summit?
Mauna Kea in Hawaii
What is the percentage of water in the human body?
37%
How does water move through the hydrological cycle?
Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and flow
What is the most common form of water in the atmosphere?
Vapor
What is the primary cause of fluctuations in surface water supplies?
Climate change
How is water quality affected by impurities acquired throughout the hydrologic cycle and from human activities?
Suspended or dissolved
What can affect water quality assessment?
Physical, chemical, and biological characteristics
What is the impact of high turbidity in water?
Reduction in light penetration and oxygen levels
What is the impact of high turbidity in water?
Interference with light penetration and photosynthetic reactions in streams and lakes
What are the sources of suspended solids in water?
Inorganic material, organic material, and human water use
What is the measurement of total solids, total suspended solids, and dissolved solids essential for?
Water quality assessment
What can cause taste and odor in water?
Minerals, metals, salts, and organic substances
What is the impact of water color?
Aesthetic unacceptability and objectionable taste and odor with chlorine
What is the primary cause of acidity in water?
Dissolved carbon dioxide and organic acids
What is the origin of alkalinity in water?
Presence of bicarbonates, carbonates, and hydroxides
What is the measurement of turbidity related to?
Light absorption or scattering due to suspended material in water
What can affect the water color?
Dissolved and suspended components from natural and industrial sources
What is the impact of taste and odor in water?
Production of objectionable taste and odor with chlorine
What is the measurement of taste and odor in water related to?
Gas or liquid chromatography and human senses
What is the impact of groundwater on turbidity?
Low turbidity due to natural filtration through soil
Study Notes
Water Quality Parameters in Hydrology
- Temperature of surface waters affects biological species and chemical reactions
- Shallow bodies of water are more affected by ambient temperature
- Dissipation of waste heat in industry may cause dramatic temperature changes in receiving streams
- Lower temperature slows biological activity, while a 10°C increase doubles activity if nutrients are present
- Elevated temperatures favor efficient food-utilizing organisms and algae growth
- Fish and dissolved oxygen levels are affected by temperature changes
- Electrical conductivity measures a sample's ability to carry electrical currents
- High conductivity indicates high contaminant levels, while potable water has low conductivity
- pH measures hydrogen ion concentration and affects water safety and taste
- pH levels outside the safe range affect aquatic life and the solubility of heavy metals
- Acidity in water is due to carbon dioxide and mineral acids, influencing corrosion and biological activities
- Alkalinity in water neutralizes acids, originates from mineral substances, and affects water taste and pipes
Water Quality Parameters Summary
- Sources of suspended solids include inorganic material (clay, silt), organic material (plant fibers, algal cells), and human water use (domestic and industrial).
- Impacts of suspended solids include aesthetic displeasure and adsorption sites for chemical and biological agents.
- Measurement of total solids, total suspended solids, and dissolved solids is essential for water quality assessment.
- Filterable and nonfilterable residues, fixed solids, and volatile solids are important parameters for water analysis.
- Turbidity measures light absorption or scattering due to suspended material in water.
- Turbidity sources include clay, silt, organic material, and erosion of colloidal material.
- High turbidity can interfere with light penetration and photosynthetic reactions in streams and lakes.
- Groundwater typically has low turbidity due to natural filtration through soil.
- Water color can be affected by dissolved and suspended components from natural and industrial sources.
- Color impacts include aesthetic unacceptability and the production of objectionable taste and odor with chlorine.
- Taste and odor in water can be caused by minerals, metals, salts, and organic substances.
- Taste and odor can be measured using gas or liquid chromatography and human senses (Threshold Odor Number or TON).
Test your knowledge of water quality parameters in hydrology with this quiz. Learn about the impact of temperature, electrical conductivity, pH, acidity, and alkalinity on aquatic ecosystems and water safety.
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