EXPERIMENT:

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION
Dissolved is the measure of the number of free oxygen molecules in water. Dissolved oxygen
(DO) levels in environmental water depend on the physiochemical and biochemical activities in
water body and it is important useful in pollution and waste treatment process control. Measuring
DO levels is an important indicator in industries such as water quality systems and aquatic
ecosystems as oxygen is an essential chemical element for the most forms of life
Dissolved oxygen is an essential parameter in monitoring water quality and a key indicator of
healthy aquatic ecosystems. Low DO levels in water are problematic for most aquatic life, often
creating dead zones where aquatic life dies off. In waste water treatments, testing DO levels in
water helps us understand the biodegradable organic matter and the biological oxygen demand
(BOD). Both these tests indicate general water quality. Alternatively, too much oxygen in water
can also be harmful, this is known as supersaturated oxygen. DO in water originates from the
atmosphere and photosynthesis, which can be affected by temperature, salinity and atmospheric
pressure(Atlas scientific)
Two methods are commonly used to determine DO concentration (1)The iodometric method
which is a titration based method and depends on oxidizing property of DO and (2) The
membrane electrode procedure, which works based on the rate of diffusion of molecular oxygen
across a membrane. (Mohanlal Sukhadia University) The iodometric or Winkler method was
used in this experiment. The samples are collected and titrated in a laboratory set up and titration
methods takes place in a special container (BOD bottle) that seals without trapping air inside.

OBJECTIVE
To estimate the amount of dissolved oxygen in a water sample.

THEORY
Oxygen in the water sample oxidizes iodide ion (I-) to iodine (I2) quantitatively. The amount of
iodine generated is then determined by titration with a standard thiosulfate (S 2O3-2) solution. The
endpoint is determined by using starch as a visual indicator. The amount of oxygen can then be
computed from the titer: one mole of O2 reacts with four moles of thiosulfate. At the time of
sampling, dissolved oxygen is fixed by the addition of Mn(II) under basic conditions, resulting in
a brown precipitate, manganic hydroxide (MnO(OH)2). After this analysis, the sample is
acidified to pH 1.0-2.5. This causes the precipitated hydroxides to dissolve, liberating Mn(III)
ions. Mn(III) ions oxidize previously added iodide ions to iodine. Iodine forms a complex (I3-)
with surplus iodide ions. Iodine and the complex exist in equilibrium; thus, I3- serves as a
reservoir of I2. The iodine is then titrated with thiosulfate; iodine is reduced to iodide and the
thiosulfate is oxidized to tetrathionate. The stoichiometric equations for the reactions described
above are:

The thiosulfate solution is not stable and therefore must be standardized with a primary standard,
typically potassium iodate (KIO3). Standardization is based on the co-proportionation reaction of
iodide with iodate, thereby forming iodine. As described above, the iodine binds with excess
iodide, and the complex is titrated with thiosulfate. One mole of iodate produces three moles
iodine, which are consumed by six moles of thiosulfate.(Boston Harbor)

MATERIALS AND METHOD

MATERIALS
Hydrated manganese sulphate (Mn.SO4.H2O) 50ml burette
Potassium iodide (KI) Two 100ml beakers
Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) Two10ml measuring cylinders
Concentrate sulphuric acid (H2SO4) Dissolved oxygen bottle
Sodium axide (NaN3)
Hydrated sodium thiosulphate (Na2S2O3.5H2O)
bromothymoblue
Water sample
METHOD TO TEST FOR AMOUNT OF DISSOLVED OXYGEN
1. The sample was poured up to the brink in a dissolved oxygen bottle, it was let to
overflow to be sure the brink was reached.
2. 1ml of MnSO4 was added.
3. Then 1ml of Alkaline iodide (azide).
4. The container was closed with a stopper and put to settle.
5. The emulsion and precipitate were allowed to settle and formed a cream-colored layer
taking about quarter the bottle.
6. 1ml of H2SO4 was added to the sample, and the container was gently swirled to promote
dissolution.
7. The sample was allowed to settle until most of the originally settled matter dissolved and
feather like threads remained.
8. The burette was set up and filled with sodium thiosulphate for titration
9. 50ml of the sample from the dissolved oxygen bottle was measured and placed in a
beaker.
10. The sample was titrated with sodium thiosulfate
11. The pH and temperature were measured

METHOD TO TEST FOR ALKALINITY

1. 50ml of the sample was measured and placed in a beaker.
2. 1 drop of bromothymoblue indicator was added
3. The sample was swirled to mix until a uniform violet color was formed
4. The burette was filled with 0.02N H2SO4
5. The sample was titrated with H2SO4
Initial reading = 33.5ml Final reading = 37.6ml Volume of H2SO4 =4.1

DATA COLLECTION
Table 1.0 shows data collected for dissolved oxygen and alkalinity tests
Group Sample Site Ph Temp Na2S2O3 H2SO4
(C)
Initial Final burette Initial Final burette
burette reading(ml) burette reading(ml)
reading(ml) reading(ml)
GROUP Kitwe 7.455 24.4 3.9 4.5 33.5 37.6
1 Stream
GROUP School Of 8.62 25.2 0 0.45 7.5 9.43
2 Mines Pond
 GROUP Center 6.925 24.8 4.5 7.8 10.0 16.9
3 Drainage
GROUP Mingling 7.83 24.8 0.5 1.1 6.0 7.5
4 Center
GROUP School Of 7.543 23.6 9.2 11.2 22.0 28.8
5 Mines Pond
GROUP Lab Water 7.84 24.9 1 3.5 3.5 5.70
6
GROUP Castro 7.63 24.7 4.5 5.6 16.8 22.0
7 Mulilo
bridge

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Table 2.0 shows the volumes used and results for each sample
Group Sample Site Volume of Amount of Volume of Level of
Na2S2O3 dissolved H2SO4 (ml) Alkalinity
(ml) oxygen(mg/l) (mg/l)
Group 1 Kitwe 0.6 2.416 4.1 82
Stream
Group 2 School Of 0.45 1.812 1.93 38.6
Mines Pond
Group 3 Center 3.3 13.289 6.9 138
Drainage
Group 4 Mingling 0.6 2.416 1.5 30
Center
Group 5 School Of 2.0 8.054 6.8 124
Mines Pond
Group 6 Lab Water 2.5 10.067 2.2 44
Group 7 Castro 1.1 2.215 5.2 104
Mulilo
bridge

The experiment required that the dissolved oxygen bottle was filled to the brink, this involved a
steady hand to move the bottle from the water source to a work surface to add the reagents while
others used the water source. Challenges were faced in the measuring and addition of reagents
due to the fact that the measuring cylinders used had no 1ml mark and estimations of the half
way point between 0 and 2ml may have caused errors. Extra care was taken when measuring and
adding the sulphuric acid to the sample in the dissolved oxygen bottle as the acid can be very
corrosive.
In the experiment for alkalinity, challenged were faced during addition of the of the indicator and
a dropper was not available. Further challenges were experienced when at the end point of the
titration because of the bias of the end point color. This may have added a small error.
The results show that different water sources have different amounts of dissolved oxygen in
different sources of water as well as the same source of water at different points i.e. the water
from the pond next to school of mines has a considerable difference in dissolved oxygen, this is
likely because it is still water and different factors affect the pond at different points
The tests for alkalinity have shown large variations for different sources, even those of similar
type. The assumption taken is that the different organisms and different water to human
interaction changes the alkalinity greatly.

CONCLUSION
The experiment was successful, the results obtained indicate the quality of the water sample in
terms of dissolved oxygen concentration and alkalinity, which are vital for assessing its
suitability for aquatic life, general use of human and what treatment is required before it is safe
for consumption. The dissolved oxygen and alkalinity calculated for each sample were tabulated
as shown in table 2.0
RECOMMENDATIONS
 Gloves should be provided for the experiment, as handling concentrated sulphuric acid
and water samples that may have harmful bacteria is very risky for those performing the
experiment
 During titration for the alkalinity test, a colored sheet should be used as reference for the
end point color or an automated light sensor can be used to cut on errors

DICSUSSION QUESTIONS
 REFERENCES
https://atlasscientific.com accessed on 27th March 2025
https://www.mlsu.ac.in accessed on 27th March 2025
12.097 Environmental Chemistry of Boston Harbor – IAP 2006
 APPENDIX
CALCULATIONS FOR DISSOLVED
DO (mg/L) = V*M*8*(1000/(VS – 2))
Volume = volume of sodium thiosulphate
Molarity of sodium thiosulphate
Vs = volume of sample bottle
Factor = Vs/ volume of beaker used = 300ml/ 50ml = 6

Group 1 DO=0.6 ×0.025 × 8× ( 300−2

1000
) ×6
¿ 2.416 mg/ L

Group 2 DO=0 .45× 0.025 ×8 × ( 300−2

1000
)× 6
¿ 1.812 mg/ L

Group 3 DO=3.3 ×0.025 × 8× ( 300−2

1000
)× 6
¿ 13.251 mg/ L

Group 4 DO=0.6 ×0.025 × 8× ( 300−2

1000
) ×6
¿ 2.416 mg/ L

Group 5 DO=2.0 ×0.025 × 8× ( 300−2

1000
)× 6
¿ 8.054 mg/L

Group 6 DO=2.5 ×0.025 × 8 × ( 300−2

1000
) ×6
¿ 10.067 mg/ L

Group 7 DO=1.1 ×0.025 ×8 × ( 300−2

1000
)× 6
¿ 2.215 mg/ L