International Year of Chemistry The Global Water Experiment

No dirt no germs

In the filtration activity students will use household materials to build a water filtration unit and identify the efficiency of different filtration materials. Then, as a follow up, they will carry out a treatment of the water. In addition, they will research the methods of their local water treatment plant and report the results of their research to the Global Experiment website. 

• The experimental activities will include: identification and collection of natural surface water, construction of a rudimentary filtration device, addition of alum and disinfectant to water.

• Students will learn the chemical concepts of aeration, coagulation, sedimentation, disinfection and filtration.

• The other part of the experiment will provide students with the local context for their work.

Requirements

•  Alum and hypochlorite bleach; and

• Instructions for the experiments and safety advice for the materials will be required. 

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