Ammonium Nitrogen
Recommended for grades 6–12.
Introduction
The ammonium ion, NH4+, is an important member of the group of nitrogen-containing compounds that act as nutrients for aquatic plants and algae. In surface water, most of the ammonia, NH3, is found in the form of the ammonium ion, NH4+. This fact allows us to approximate the concentration of all of the nitrogen in the form of ammonia and ammonium combined, commonly called ammonia nitrogen, by measuring only the concentration of the ammonium ions.
Objectives
- Measure the concentration of ammonium nitrogen in a stream or lake using an Ammonium Ion-Selective Electrode (ISE).
Sensors and Equipment
This experiment requires each of the following Vernier sensors and equipment (unless otherwise noted):
Additional Requirements
You may also need an interface and software for data collection. What do I need for data collection?
Download Experiment Preview
The student-version preview includes:
- Step-by-step instructions for computer-based data collection
- List of materials and equipment
Note: The experiment preview of the computer edition does not include essential teacher information, safety tips, or sample data. Instructions for Logger Pro and other software (such as LabQuest App or TI handheld software, where available) are on the CD that accompanies the book. We strongly recommend that you purchase the book before performing experiments.
Standards Correlations
See all standards correlations for Water Quality with Vernier »
Included in the Lab Book
Vernier lab books include a CD with word-processing files of the student instructions, essential teacher information, suggested answers, sample data and graphs, and more.