Read Manahan Book Chapter 3.0 to 3.

7 pages 60 to 71

CHAPTER 3:
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF
AQUATIC CHEMISTRY
prepared by: r.a.mindo
Nov. 23, 2008
 IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF WATER
P roperty Effects and Significance
Excellent solvent Transport of nutrients and waste products,
making biological process possible in an aqueous
medium.
High dipole Good solvent for polar substances. Responsible
moment (1.85 for hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions in
Debye) aqueous solutions.
High dielectric High solubility of ionic substances and their
constant ionization in solution.
High surface Controlling factor in physiology; governs drop
tension (71.99 and surface phenomena.
dynes/cm)
Transparent to Colorless, allowing light required for
visible and longer- photosynthesis to reach considerable depths in
wavelength fraction bodies of water
of ultraviolet light.
 IMPORTANT PROPERTIES OF WATER
Maximum density as a Ice floats in liquid water, vertical circulation
liquid at 4 °C restricted in stratified bodies of water.

High heat of Determines transfer of heat and water

evaporation (585 molecules between the atmosphere and
cal/g at 200 °C) bodies of water.
High latent heat of Temperature stabilized at the freezing point of
fusion water.
High heat capacity (1 Stabilization of temperatures of organisms
cal g-1 K-1) and geological regions.
High melting point Due to strong H-bonding of H2O molecules
and high boiling point

Properties of Water, RicochetScience; https://youtu.be/z5Vm56Pu4hU

 WATER: QUALITY, QUANTITY, AND CHEMISTRY
Globally, problems with quantity and quality of water supply
remain and in some respects are becoming more serious.
These problems include increased water use due to
population growth, contamination of drinking water by
improperly discarded hazardous wastes and destruction of
wildlife by water pollution.
GLOBAL WATER DISTRIBUTION
 AQUATIC CHEMISTRY
Aquatic Chemistry – is the branch of environmental chemistry
that deals with the chemical phenomena in water. It requires
some understanding of the sources, transport,
characteristics, and composition of water. It considers
groundwater and water in rivers, lakes, estuaries, and
oceans, as well as the phenomena that determine the
distribution and circulation of chemical species in natural
waters.
The study of water is known as hydrology, and is divided into
a number of subcategories.
Limnology – is the branch of the science dealing with the
biological, chemical, and physical characteristics of
freshwater.
Oceanography – is the science of the deep sea ocean and its
biological, chemical, and physical characteristics.
The hydrologic cycle
 STRATIFICATION OF LAKES
Water’s unique temperature-density relationship results in the
formation of distinct layers within non flowing bodies of water.

Lake Stratification & Turnover, Exploring the Nature of Wyoming | UWyo

Extension, https://youtu.be/p_k5T2wnPSg
THERMAL STRATIFICATION IN LAKES
 AQUATIC LIFE
The living organisms (biota) in an aquatic ecosystem may be
classified as either autotrophic or heterotrophic.
 PRODUCTIVITY
Productivity – the ability of a body of water to produce living
material. Productivity results from a combination of physical
and chemical factors.
Water quality parameters:
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) - As DO levels in water drop below
5.0 mg/l, aquatic life is put under stress. The lower the
concentration, the greater the stress. Oxygen levels that
remain below 1-2 mg/l for a few hours can result in large fish
kills.
Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) – refers to the amount
of oxygen utilized when the organic matter in a given amount
volume of water is degraded biologically.
Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) – is the measure of the
oxygen equivalent of the organic matter content of a sample
that is susceptible to oxidation by a strong chemical oxidant,
usually K2Cr2O7. The oxidation of most organic compounds is
95 to 100 % of the theoretical value.
 DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Q1: Air is 21% by volume O2. Calculate the molar
concentration of dissolved oxygen in lake water that is
saturated with air. What is this concentration in ppm?
The Henry’s law constant for oxygen is 1.28 x 10 -3 mol /
atm-L at 20 °C.

Henry’s law: Solubility of gas = KH Pgas

PO2 = P total x mole fraction O2
Avogadro’s law: V gas is directly proportional to moles of
gas at constant pressure and temperature.
volume fraction = mole fraction
PO2 = 1 atm x 0.21 = 0.21 atm
[O2] = 1.28 x 10 -3 M/atm x 0.21 atm = 2.688 x 10 -4 M
 DISSOLVED OXYGEN
Q1: Air is 21% by volume O2. Calculate the molar
concentration of dissolved oxygen in lake water that is
saturated with air. What is this concentration in ppm?
The Henry’s law constant for oxygen is 1.28 x 10 -3 mol /
atm-L at 20 °C.

Assume 1 liter of lake water:

32 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔 1000 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
mg O2 = 2.688 x 10 -4 M x 1 liter x x =
1 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑂𝑂2 1 𝑔𝑔
mg O2 = 8.602 mg
8.602 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
ppm O2 = = 8.602 ppm O2
1 𝐿𝐿

Why Monitor for Dissolved Oxygen, YSIinc

https://youtu.be/hrU7X7G4Ac8
Dissolved oxygen measurement, Endress+Hauser
https://youtu.be/y7zbmlEaPAs
 EUTROPHICATION
Eutrophication – the excessive growth of algae in very
productive waters which results to the concurrent
decomposition of dead algae and reduces oxygen levels in the
water to very low values.
Sample Exercises:
Q2: Five hundred kilograms of n-propanol are accidentally
discharged into a body of water containing 1 x 10 8 liters of
H2O. By how much is the BOD (in milligrams per liter) of this
water increased? Assume the following reaction:
C3H8O + 9/2 O2 → 3 CO2 + 4 H2O

𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑂𝑂2 𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛𝑛 𝑡𝑡𝑡𝑡 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 𝑛𝑛 − 𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝𝑝 :

𝟗𝟗
𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏 𝒈𝒈 𝟏𝟏 𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 𝑶𝑶𝟐𝟐
𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓𝟓 𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌 𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑 𝒙𝒙 𝒙𝒙 𝒙𝒙 𝟐𝟐 𝒙𝒙
𝟏𝟏 𝒌𝒌𝒌𝒌 𝟔𝟔𝟔𝟔. 𝟎𝟎𝟎𝟎 𝒈𝒈 𝟏𝟏 𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑𝒑

𝟑𝟑𝟑𝟑 𝒈𝒈𝒈𝒈𝒈𝒈𝒈𝒈 𝑶𝑶𝟐𝟐 𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏𝟏 𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎

𝒙𝒙
𝟏𝟏 𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 𝟏𝟏 𝒈𝒈
= 1.198 x 10 9 mg O2
1.198 x 10 9 mg O2
BOD = = 12.0 mg/L
1 x 10 8 𝐿𝐿
Q3: A lake with a cross-sectional area of 1 km2 and a depth of
50 meters has a euphotic zone that extends meters below
the surface. What is the maximum weight of the biomass (in
grams of carbon) that can be decomposed by aerobic
bacteria in the water column of the lake below the euphotic
zone during the summer when there is no circulation with the
upper layer? The bacterial decomposition is:
(CH2O)n + nO2 → n CO2 + n H2O
The solubility of oxygen in pure water saturated with air at 20
°C is 8.6 mg/L; 1 m3 = 1,000 liters.

1000 𝑚𝑚 2 1000 𝐿𝐿
Volume of water (L) = 1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘2 x x 50 m x =
1 𝑘𝑘𝑘𝑘 1 𝑚𝑚3
= 5.00 x 10 10 L
𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚
mg O2 = 8.6 x 5.00 x 10 10 L = 4.30 x 10 11
𝐿𝐿
Q3: A lake with a cross-sectional area of 1 km2 and a depth of
50 meters has a euphotic zone that extends meters below
the surface. What is the maximum weight of the biomass (in
grams of carbon) that can be decomposed by aerobic
bacteria in the water column of the lake below the euphotic
zone during the summer when there is no circulation with the
upper layer? The bacterial decomposition is:
(CH2O)n + nO2 → n CO2 + n H2O
The solubility of oxygen in pure water saturated with air at 20
°C is 8.6 mg/L; 1 m3 = 1,000 liters.

1 𝑔𝑔 1 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑂𝑂2 1 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 𝑂𝑂

4.30 x 10 11 mg O2 x x x x
1000 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 32 𝑔𝑔 1 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝑂𝑂2
1 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝐶𝐶 12 𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔𝑔
x = 1.6 x 10 8 grams C
1 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝐶𝐶𝐶𝐶2 𝑂𝑂 1 𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚𝑚 𝐶𝐶
Assignment: Assume that algae need carbon, nitrogen, and
phosphorus in the atomic ratios 106:16:1. What is the limiting
nutrient in a lake that contains the following concentrations:
total C = 20 mg/L, total N = 80 mg/L, and total P = 0.16
mg/L?
If it is known that half the phosphorus in the lake originates
from the use of phosphate detergents, will banning
phosphate builders slow down eutrophication?

Eutrophication Explained, Atlas Pro https://youtu.be/mLbDbmmV6Qc

 BIOGEOCHEMICAL CYCLES
Read Manahan Book Chapter 1.6 pages 12 to 20

There is a constant exchange of matter among the five major

environmental spheres as describe by cycles of matter. Since
natural cycles of matter usually involve geochemical and
biological processes, they are frequently called
biogeochemical cycles.

Materials cycle may be divided broadly between endogenic

cycles, which predominantly involve subsurface rocks of
various kinds, and exogenic cycles, which occur largely on
Earth’s surface, and usually have an atmospheric
component.
 CARBON CYCLE

The Global Carbon Cycle: Crash Course Chemistry

https://youtu.be/aLuSi_6Ol8M
CARBON CYCLE
NITROGEN CYCLE
 PHOSPHORUS CYCLE

Nitrogen & Phosphorus Cycles: Crash Course https://youtu.be/leHy-Y_8nRs

 SULFUR CYCLE

Biogeochemical Cycles, Bozeman Science

https://youtu.be/Bn41lXKyVWQ