Q 1. What are the principle advantages and disadvantages of the COD test over the BOD test?

Answer: Advantages: The major advantages of COD test is the short time required for evaluation. The
determination can be made in about 3 hours rather than the 5 days required for the measurement of
BOD. For this reason , it is used as a substitute fir the BOD test in many instances.

Disadvantages: One of the chief limitations of COD test is its inability to differentiate between
biologically oxidizable and biologically inert organic matter. In addition, it does not provide any evidence
of the rate at which the biologically active material would be stabilized under conditions that exist in
nature.

Q 2. Explain why COD values are greater than BOD values.

Answer: During the determination of COD, organic matter is converted to carbon dioxide and water
regardless of the biological assimilability of the substance. For example, glucose and lignin are both
oxidized completely. As a result, COD values are greater than BOD values, especially when biologically
resistance organic matter is present.

Q 3. What are the adverse effects of presence of iron in water?

Answer: Adverse effects of presence of iron in water :

1.Humans suffer no harmful effects from drinking water containing iron.

2. If iron containing water gives hardness, so consumption of soap by this water.

3. Excessive iron gives tastes.

4. Iron in water discoloration of clothes.

5. In plumbing fixtures, iron water create clogging and iron bacteria , so problem in water distribution
system.

Q 4: Why hydrochloric acid and potassium permanganate are added to the sample in the determination
of iron?

Answer: Hydrochloric acid and potassium permanganate are added to the sample in the determination
of iron may exist as iron hydroxide precipitates. It is necessary that all iron is in soluble condition.
Treating the water to be tested with hydrochloric acid to dissolve ferric hydroxide does this, for
determination of total iron, it should be ensured that all iron exist in ferric from Fe3+. This is most
readily accomplished by using potassium permanganate an oxidizing agent.

Q 5: Groundwater with high dissolved iron concentration often becomes turbid after extraction (in
contact with air).explain why?

Answer: Groundwater with high dissolved iron concentration often becomes turbid after extraction
because, such waters when exposed to the air so that oxygen can enter ,become turbid. Iron in water is
frequently accompanied by heavy growths of iron bacteria. Iron is common in the earth and water
containing CO2, which seeps through iron bearing material, dissolve it to ferrous bicarbonate from
Fe(HCO3)2. The ferrous bicarbonate easily oxidized into ferric hydroxide Fe(OH)3. Which is precipitated
as rusty sediment.

Q 6. Discuss the importance of alkalinity in water for different treatment processes ?

Ans : 1. Alkalinity is important for fish and aquatic life because it protects or buffers against rapid pH
change.

2. Large amount of alkalinity imparts bitter taste in water.

3. Alkalinity as carbonate and bicarbonate of saline water is very important in tertiary recovery
processes for recovering petroleum.

4. The alkalinity value is necessary in the calculation of carbonate scaling tendencies of saline water.

Q 7. Define total alkalinity ,phenolphthalein alkalinity and methyl orange alkalinity ?

Ans : Total Alkalinity : which alkalinity is due to the presence of hydroxide , carbonate and bicarbonate ,
it is called total alkalinity. HCO3- + H+ = (CO3)2-

Phenolphthalein alkalinity : when alkalinity is measured to the phenolphthalein end point (pH 4.5), it is
called Phenolphthalein alkalinity. Which is due to the presence of either hydroxide or carbonate or both.
CO2 + CaCO3 + H2O = Ca2+ +2HCO3-

Methyl orange alkalinity : when alkalinity is measured to the methyl orange end point (pH) it is called
methyl orange alkalinity. CO3 + H+ = HCO3-

Q 8. Chlorides can introduced into natural water in many ways “Explain“ ?

Ans : 1.Mineral content increase in soil .

2. It sea and ocean water represent the residues resulting from partial evaporation of natural water that
flow into them and then chloride contain with natural water.

3. The solvent power of water dissolves chloride from top soil and deeper for motion.

4. Spray from the ocean is carried inland as droplets or minute salt crystals, which result from
evaporation of the water in the droplet.

5. Human excreta , particularly urine , many industrial wastes increase the amount of chloride in water.

Q 9. In which chemical from arsenic is likely to exists in ground water ? explain ?

Ans : Arsenic in ground water exists primarily as oxy anions representing two oxidation states , arsenic
(arsenite) and arsenic (arsenate) [34,35]. Both and exists within the pH range of 6-9. The predominate
species are unchanged H3AsO3 while the primary arsenate species are monovalent H2AsO4 and
divalent .