Water Quality Testing Lab: Become a Water Scientist!

Objective: Investigate the properties of different water samples.

Materials You'll Need:

• Different water samples (e.g., tap water, distilled water, mystery water A, mystery water B)
• Small cups or beakers
• pH indicator strips (or litmus paper)
• Stirring sticks
• Sugar
• Salt
• This lab sheet!

Instructions:

Part 1: The pH Challenge

1. Observe: Look at each water sample. Does it have a color? Does it smell like anything?
2. Test pH: Carefully dip a pH indicator strip into each water sample for a few seconds. Do not mix the strips between samples!
3. Compare: Match the color on your strip to the pH color chart provided by your teacher.
4. Record: Write down the pH number for each sample in the table below.

Part 2: Solubility Super Sleuth

1. Add Sugar: Take a small amount of sugar and add it to each water sample. Stir gently with a clean stirring stick.
2. Observe: What happens to the sugar? Does it disappear? Does it sink? Does it float? How quickly does it dissolve?
3. Record: Write down your observations in the table below.
4. Add Salt: Now, take a small amount of salt and add it to the same water samples (you can use the same samples, or fresh ones if your teacher provides them). Stir gently.
5. Observe: What happens to the salt? Does it disappear? How quickly does it dissolve?
6. Record: Write down your observations in the table below.

My Water Quality Data Table

Reflection Questions:

1. Which water sample had a neutral pH (a pH of 7)? Why do you think that is?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Did sugar and salt dissolve equally well in all the water samples? What does this tell you about water as a solvent?
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Why is it important for us to know about the pH and solubility of water in our environment?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Water Wisdom Exit Ticket

Name: ____________________________

Date: ____________________________


## Answer the following questions based on today's lesson:

1. List two important properties of water that we learned about today.
   
   
   
   

2. What does the pH scale tell us about a liquid? (Circle one)
   
   A. How much it weighs
   B. How hot or cold it is
   C. If it is acidic, neutral, or basic
   D. How many bubbles it has
   
   
   

3. Imagine you have a glass of water and you add a spoonful of sugar. What scientific term describes what happened to the sugar?
   
   
   
   

4. Why is it important for the water we drink and the water in our rivers and lakes to have a healthy pH?
   
   
   
   
   
   

Water Wisdom Exit Ticket Answer Key

Answer the following questions based on today's lesson:

1. List two important properties of water that we learned about today.
   

   • Solvent / Universal Solvent: Water's ability to dissolve many substances.
   • pH: The measure of how acidic or basic a liquid is.
   • Cohesion/Adhesion (if discussed, though pH and solubility are primary in this lesson)
     
     
     

2. What does the pH scale tell us about a liquid? (Circle one)
   
   A. How much it weighs
   B. How hot or cold it is
   C. If it is acidic, neutral, or basic
   D. How many bubbles it has
   
   
   

3. Imagine you have a glass of water and you add a spoonful of sugar. What scientific term describes what happened to the sugar?
   

   • Solubility (or dissolved, dissolving). The sugar dissolved in the water, demonstrating water's property of solubility as a solvent.
     
     
     

4. Why is it important for the water we drink and the water in our rivers and lakes to have a healthy pH?
   

   • Explanation: A healthy pH (close to neutral, around 7) is essential for the survival and well-being of living organisms. Our bodies need a balanced pH, and plants and aquatic life (fish, insects) are very sensitive to changes in water pH. Extreme acidity or basicity can be harmful or even deadly to these organisms and make water unsafe to drink.