The article describes the different properties and qualities of water; terms that are usually used to describe the qualities of the latter. Here are a few of the discussed items:
pH or the hydrogen ion concentration of water is a convenient method of expressing the basicity or the acidity or a solution. The pH scale usually runs from ranges 0 to 14 with the pH value of 7.0 indicating a neutral solution. Solutions with pH levels above 7.0, indicates basicity; naturally, ranges below 7.0 indicates acidity. Natural water usually has pH levels between 6.5 up to 8.5. These values are derived from common logarithms thus a difference of one pH unit indicates a tenfold or 10¹ difference in acidity; a difference of to units would indicate a hundredfold or 10² difference in acidity. The term was derived from the French, “pouvoir hydrogène” which literally means “hydrogen power”.
Another term described within the article is ‘hardness’. This is the property of water which causes an increase in the amount of soap that is needed to produce foam or lather. This property of water is usually causes the production of scales in hot water pipes, heaters, boilers and other units wherein the temperature of water is materially increased. Figures in identifying the hardness of water, from ‘soft’ to ‘very hard’, can be found on the article.
The capacity of the water for neutralizing an acid solution is referred to as alkalinity. In the article, it occurs primarily due to the presence of hydroxides, bicarbonates, carbonates; occasionally also due to borates, silicates, and phosphates. The measure is either expressed in units of milligrams per liter or mg/l of caCO3 (calcium carbonate) or as microequivalents per liter (µeq/l). Solutions with pH levels below 4.5 contain no alkalinity.
The next item discussed is the presence of iron in water. It is a silvery white or gray, soft, ductile, malleable, somewhat magnetic metal that is causing the discoloration of concrete or other structures where water is usually in contact. Another property of water discussed is its salinity or the presence of salt. This chemical class o ionic compound is a result of a reaction between a metal and one or more nonmetals.
Turbid is usually a term applied to a water that contains suspended materials interfering with the passage of light through it. Turbidity may be caused by a wide variety of factors such as clay, silt, inorganic matters, etc. Turbidity of water has considerable health implications such as the presence of pathogenic bacteria that can severely affected marine life. These levels in water can be measured using a turbidimeter—the excessive amounts of turbidity can make the water aesthetically objectionable and unusable.
Out of these factors, bacteria have been the biggest issue when it comes to water purification. Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms, typically spherical, or spiral and threadlike-shaped. These organisms have been notorious suspects in causing numerous amounts of water-related diseases. Not all bacteria are pathogenic though. Some bacteria play essential roles in nature in the recycling of materials; decomposing organic matters, animal digestion, and so forth. Some pathogenic bacteria discussed were Total Coliform Bacteria, Fecal Coliform Bacteria, and Fecal Sterptococcal Bacteria.
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