ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS LAB ACTIVITIES

See Lab Activities #1, 4, and 5 under “Life Science/Biology Activities”.

The following equipment is available for environmental analysis:

1. Hach water test kits - These kits include the Hach colorimeter, pH meter, thermometer, and the necessary chemicals to perform the following analyses: nitrates, phosphates, dissolved oxygen, total dissolved solids, hardness, iron, turbidity, chlorine, and others.

2. LaMotte soil test kits - These kits contain materials to test nitrates, phosphates, pH, potassium, and sedimentation rate.

3. Soil moisture meters

4. Insect nets and dip nets.

5. Dissecting and oil-immersion microscopes.

6. Milipore filtration equipment - used to test for fecal coliform

The following water tests are available with the Vernier Lab Pro sensors (from the Vernier manual Water Quality with Computers):

Water quality test Probe or sensor used

1. Temperature -Temperature probe

2. Turbidity- Turbidity sensor

3. Dissolved oxygen- Dissolved oxygen probe

4. Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)- Dissolved oxygen probe

5. Ortho-and total phosphates- Colorimeter

6. Nitrate- Colorimeter

7. Alkalinity- pH meter

8. Total dissolved solids- Conductivity probe

The Vernier Lab Pro can be connected to a PDA so data can be collected in the field and then down-loaded to a computer for analysis.