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    Vernier

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    Samuel
    This document describes an experiment to test water hardness using soap sudsing and conductivity tests. Students use a conductivity probe and NXT brick to measure the conductivity of distilled water, very hard water, and tap water. They analyze the results to determine the hardness of their tap water and conduct additional tests of other local water sources.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Vernier

    Uploaded by

    Samuel
    88 views5 pages
    This document describes an experiment to test water hardness using soap sudsing and conductivity tests. Students use a conductivity probe and NXT brick to measure the conductivity of distilled water, very hard water, and tap water. They analyze the results to determine the hardness of their tap water and conduct additional tests of other local water sources.

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    This document describes an experiment to test water hardness using soap sudsing and conductivity tests. Students use a conductivity probe and NXT brick to measure the conductivity of distilled water, very hard water, and tap water. They analyze the results to determine the hardness of their tap water and conduct additional tests of other local water sources.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    88 views5 pages

    Vernier

    Uploaded by

    Samuel
    This document describes an experiment to test water hardness using soap sudsing and conductivity tests. Students use a conductivity probe and NXT brick to measure the conductivity of distilled water, very hard water, and tap water. They analyze the results to determine the hardness of their tap water and conduct additional tests of other local water sources.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    of 5

    Experiment

    Water Hardness
    11
    When water passes through or over mineral deposits such as limestone, the levels of certain ions
    present in the water increase greatly and cause the water to be classified as hard water. This term
    results from the fact that calcium or magnesium ions in water combine with soap molecules. This
    forms a sticky scum that interferes with soap action and makes it “hard” to get suds. Soft water,
    such as rainwater or melted snow, is mostly free of these ions. Soft water, when mixed with soap
    will form suds. A Conductivity Probe can be used to test for ions in water. Hard water, because of
    the ions it contains, gives a high conductivity reading. Soft water gives a low conductivity reading.

    py
    In Part I of this experiment, you will learn how to test water hardness and find the hardness of the
    tap water in your school. In Part II, you will plan and conduct a water hardness study.

    co
    OBJECTIVES
    In this experiment, you will
    • Use soap to find water hardness.
    • Use a Conductivity Probe to find water hardness.
    • Determine the hardness of the water in your school.
    • n
    Apply what you have learned as you conduct a water hardness study.

    MATERIALS
    tio
    computer 3 test tubes
    LEGO NXT Intelligent Brick test tube rack
    MINDSTORMS Edu NXT v2.0 software Ivory liquid soap
    Vernier NXT Sensor Adapter dropper
    ua

    Vernier Conductivity Probe ruler


    NXT cable ring stand and utility clamp
    25 mL graduated cylinder three 100 mL beakers
    distilled water wash bottle with distilled water
    very hard water waste cup
    tap water
    al
    Ev

    Figure 1

    STEM with Vernier and LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 11 - 1


    Experiment 11

    PROCEDURE
    Part IA Soap Sudsing Tests
    1. Place 10 mL of distilled water in one test tube. Place 10 mL of very hard water in a second
    test tube. Place 10 mL of tap water in a third test tube.
    2. Add one drop of Ivory liquid soap to each test tube and insert the stoppers. Shake each test
    tube the same number of times.
    3. Use a ruler to measure the suds height (in cm) in each test tube. Record the results in your
    data table.

    Part IB Conductivity Tests


    4. Fill a clean beaker halfway with distilled water. Fill a second beaker halfway with very hard
    water, and the third beaker halfway with tap water.
    5. Connect the sensor and the NXT.
    a. Connect the Conductivity Probe to the Vernier NXT Sensor Adapter. The switch on the
    Conductivity Probe should be on the 0–2000 µS/cm setting.
    b. Connect the Adapter to Port 1 on the NXT using a LEGO NXT cable.
    c. Make sure the NXT is connected to the computer (USB or Bluetooth) and turned on.
    6. Launch NXT 2.0 Programming.
    7. Prepare the program for conductivity data collection.
    a. Click the Go button next to Start New Program.
    b. Drag a Vernier Sensor Block from the Sensor palette to the programming area.
    c. In the configuration panel at the lower-left side of the computer screen, select
    Conductivity Probe from the Sensor pull-down list.
    d. You should see live sensor readings displayed in the configuration panel. If the sensor
    reading is gray and not changing, the NXT is not communicating with the computer. Click
    on the NXT Window button at the top-left corner of the NXT Controller. If the NXT is not
    listed as Connected, you may need to check the power and connections and then select
    your NXT from the list presented. Once it is listed as Available, you can choose Connect.
    8. Measure the conductivity for each of the three water samples.
    a. Use a wash bottle filled with distilled water to thoroughly rinse the Conductivity Probe as
    shown by your teacher.
    b. Lower the Conductivity Probe into the water sample until the hole in the probe end is
    completely submerged. Swirl the water around the probe briefly. Be careful not to damage
    the probe.
    c. Note the conductivity reading in the digital diplay. When the reading stabilizes, record the
    conductivity value in your data table.

    Part II A Water Hardness Study


    9. Use the skills you gained in Part I and do a study of water available in your community. You
    might compare surface water (from streams and ponds) with groundwater (from wells and
    springs). A study of the different bottled waters sold at local stores can also be done. Explain
    the hardness of the waters you test.

    11 - 2 STEM with Vernier and LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT


    Water Hardness

    DATA AND OBSERVATIONS

    Suds height Conductivity


    (cm) (µS/cm)

    Distilled water

    Very hard water

    Tap water

    PROCESSING THE DATA


    1. Is the tap water hard? Explain how you decided on your answer.

    2. Where does your tap water come from? How does that source affect the hardness of the
    water?

    3. How did the hardnesses of the waters you tested in Part II compare?

    4. Why is each of the waters you tested in Part II as hard (soft) as it is?

    EXTENSIONS
    1. Study the effectiveness of different water softeners.
    2. Study the hardness of tap water at various places in your community.

    STEM with Vernier and LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT 11 - 3


    Experiment 11

    3. Compare the hardness of hot tap water with the hardness of cold tap water.
    4. Do library research to get more information on what makes water hard.

    11 - 4 STEM with Vernier and LEGO MINDSTORMS NXT


    Vernier Lab Safety Instructions Disclaimer
    THIS IS AN EVALUATION COPY OF THE VERNIER STUDENT LAB.

    This copy does not include:


    z Safety information
    z Essential instructor background information
    z Directions for preparing solutions
    z Important tips for successfully doing these labs

    The complete STEM with Vernier and LEGO® MINDSTORMS® NXT lab manual includes
    14 lab activities and four projects as well as essential teacher information. The full lab book is
    available for purchase at: http://www.vernier.com/cmat/stem.html

    Vernier Software & Technology


    13979 S.W. Millikan Way • Beaverton, OR 97005-2886
    Toll Free (888) 837-6437 • (503) 277-2299 • FAX (503) 277-2440
    [email protected] • www.vernier.com

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