ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS LAB ACTIVITIES

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.