Test+4+-+Total+Solids

﻿Total Solids
 * ==//a measure of all the suspended, colloidal, and dissolved solids in a sample of water.//==

**__ Why Do We Care About Total Solids? __** === Total Solids, or TS, is measured in streams because if the levels of total solids are too high or too low, it can impact the health of the stream and the organisms that live there. When there are high levels of total solids, they will reduce the clarity of the water which will decrease the amount of sunlight able to penetrate the water, therefore decreasing the photosynthetic rate. With the waters reduced clarity to also make the water less aesthetically pleasing, it may not be harmful directly, but it can certainly make the water undesirable for many water uses. If the water is less cloudy, sunlight will warm it more efficiently because the suspended particles in the water absorb the sunlight which, in turn, warms the surrounding water. But this can also lead to other problems having to do with increased temperature levels. ===

= ﻿Testing Procedure =

** ﻿ ﻿ ﻿Day 1 - ﻿ ﻿  **
 **1.** Prepare two (2) mL beakers for drying and sample evaporation.  a) Carefully clean two 250 mL beakers and place them in  a drying oven at 100–105° C for at least one hour to dry.    b) Using tongs or gloves, remove the beakers from the  oven and allow them to cool. //**Note: **//  //From this point on, ////always handle the beakers with tongs or gloves to// //prevent the oils on your hands from affecting the// //masses of the beakers.//  c) Using a pencil, number your beakers “1” and “2”. Do  not use labeling tape.   d) Use an analytical balance to measure the mass of each  beaker. Record the values on the Data & Calculations  sheet (round to the nearest 0.001 g). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> e) If you complete Step 1 before collecting your samples, <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">store the beakers in a clean, dry, dust-free space until you return to the lab. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">**2.** Transfer the samples to the beakers. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">a) Remove any large particles, such as twigs or insects, from the sample water. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">b) Swirl the samples to attain uniformity of suspended particles. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">c) Using a 100 mL graduated cyclinder, carefully measure 200 mL of sample water into each beaker. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">**3.** Using tongs or gloves, place the beakers into the oven and allow the water to evaporate overniht at a temperature of around 100105<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Symbol; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">° <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">C. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> ** Day 2 - ** <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">**<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">4. **Measure the mass of the beakers and solids. <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> a) Using tongs or gloves, remove the beakers from the oven and place them in a dessicator<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">, if available, to cool. A dessicator will keep the samples from absorbing any water from the air that would increase their mass. If no dessicator is available, the beakers can be cooled on a table top. Proceed to the next step as soon as possible to minimize any absorption of water.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> b) Use an analytical balance to measure the mass of each beaker with the solids now left behind. Record the values on the Data & Calculations sheet (round to the nearest 0.001 g). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> c) Obtain the mass of the solids by subtracting the mass of the empty beaker from the mass of the beaker with the solids. If the mass of the solids is at least 0.025 g, proceed to Step 6. If the mass of the solids is less than 0.025 g, proceed to Step 5.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> **5.** If the mass of the solids is less than 0.025 g, add another 200 mL of sample to each beaker and repeat Steps 3 and 4. Make a note on the Data & Calculations sheet that your total volume is now 400 mL instead of 200 mL.

<span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">**6.** Record the mass of the solids on the Data & Calculations sheet (round to the nearest 0.001 g). <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;"> <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; display: block; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: auto;">