Potable Water

• What is potable water?

  Water you can drink
• How is potable water produced?

  It depends on where you are
• What is used to filter out large twigs?

  Wire mesh screens
• What do sand and gravel beds filter out?

  Any other solid bits
• What is sterilization in water treatment?

  Water is sterilized to kill harmful bacteria
• How can you sterilize water?

  By bubbling chlorine gas through it
• What is a method to treat seawater for drinking?

  Distillation can be used
• What are the steps to test water quality in the lab?

  1. Test the pH using a pH meter
  2. Neutralize if the pH is too high or low
  3. Test for sodium chloride presence
  4. Conduct a flame test for sodium ions
  5. Test for chloride ions using a silver nitrate solution
• What indicates the presence of sodium ions in water?

  The flame will turn yellow
• What indicates the presence of chloride ions in water?

  A white precipitate will form
• What should you do to distill salty water?

  Pour it into a distillation apparatus
• What happens to water when it boils in distillation?

  It turns into steam
• What is the result of boiling salty water?

  It leaves salt behind
• What happens to the water vapor during distillation?

  It condenses back into liquid
• What should you do after heating the flask in distillation?

  Collect the distilled water
• What is the final product of distillation?

  Pure distilled water
• What are the key steps in the distillation process?

  1. Pour salty water into a distillation apparatus
  2. Heat the flask to boil the water
  3. Collect the steam as it condenses
  4. Obtain pure distilled water
• What is the main purpose of the procedure described in the study material?

  To treat water from a groundwater source
• What happens if chloride ions are present in the solution?

  A white precipitate will form
• What is the first step to distill the water?

  Pour the salty water into a distillation apparatus
• What is the role of heating in the distillation process?

  It causes the water to boil and form steam
• What happens to the dissolved salts during the distillation process?

  They remain in the flask after boiling
• What is collected as the steam condenses back into liquid?

  Liquid water in the condenser
• How can you test the distilled water for sodium chloride?

  Test the distilled water for sodium chloride
• What is the purpose of testing the pH of the distilled water?

  To check if it is neutral with a pH of 7
• What is the pH level indicating neutrality?

  7
• How can seawater be treated according to the study material?

  By using processes that utilize membranes
• What is the function of the membrane in the treatment of seawater?

  It allows only water molecules to pass through
• What happens to larger molecules during the process?

  They are trapped by the membranes
• Why are distillation and reverse osmosis considered energy-intensive?

  They require significant energy to operate
• What is the implication of the energy cost in producing large quantities of freshwater?

  It makes the processes expensive and impractical
• What is the final note about distilled water in the study material?

  It is not practical for large-scale production
• What steps can be taken to treat groundwater water to make it potable?

  1. Pour salty water into a distillation apparatus.
  2. Heat the flask to boil the water.
  3. Collect the steam as it condenses back to liquid.
  4. Test the distilled water for sodium chloride.
  5. Check the pH to ensure it is neutral (pH 7).
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of distillation and reverse osmosis for water treatment?

  Strengths:

  • Effective in removing salts and impurities
  • Produces high-quality freshwater

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Energy-intensive processes
  • Expensive for large-scale production
• What are the characteristics of seawater treatment processes?

  • Utilize membranes to separate water from salts
  • Allow only water molecules to pass through
  • Trap larger molecules and impurities