Total Solids
Recommended for grades 6–12.
Introduction
Total solids, TS, is a measure of all the suspended, colloidal, and dissolved solids in a sample of water. This includes dissolved salts such as sodium chloride, NaCl, and solid particles such as silt and plankton. An excess of total solids in rivers and streams is a very common problem. The Environmental Protection Agency’s National Water Quality Inventory has concluded that siltation, one of the primary contributors to total solids, is the most common pollutant of streams and rivers they sampled.
Many factors can contribute to the total solids in water. Soil erosion is a large contributor. An increase in water flow or a decrease in stream-bank vegetation can speed up the process of soil erosion and contribute to the levels of suspended particles such as clay and silt. Naturally occurring rocks or minerals in the soil such as halite, NaCl, or limestone, CaCO3, may also dissolve into the water, adding to the total solids.
Objectives
- Determine the total solids in a sample of water from a stream or lake.
Sensors and Equipment
No probeware required for this experiment.
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.