Students will be able to use pH paper in both wide and narrow range to determine the pH of a sample to the nearest tenth of a unit. Samples will be drawn at four designated sites. The student will be able to give possible resons to explain any changes in chemical analysis that may take place. Background Information Groundwater on Long island is produced from precipitation that strikes and infiltrates the surface of the earth. Once this infiltration takes place, it is known as groundwater.
Many factors can affect the chemical composition of the water in a particular area.
Dissolved oxygen is picked up by precipitation as it falls through the atmosphere. Additional oxygen may be added to surface water by fresh water plants and by the movement of water over rocks in a stream. The oxygen level in water that has never been exposed to the earth's surface will remain relatively constant. Nitrogen is added to groundwater generally by over-fertilization of farmlands and private lawns. Small amounts of nitrogen can be added to the groundwater by oxygen-fixing bacteria or legumes, such as peas, beans, and clover.