Nitrate
Recommended for grades 6–12.
Introduction
The tests described here are used to measure the concentration of nitrate ions, NO3−, in a water sample. The concentration of nitrate will be expressed throughout this section in units of mg/L NO3−-N. The unit, NO3−-N, means simply “nitrogen that is in the form of nitrate.”
Nitrate ions found in freshwater samples result from a variety of natural and manmade sources. Nitrates are an important source of nitrogen necessary for plants and animals to synthesize amino acids and proteins. Most nitrogen on earth is found in the atmosphere in the form of nitrogen gas, N2. Through a process called the nitrogen cycle, nitrogen gas is changed into forms that are useable by plants and animals. These conversions include industrial production of fertilizers, as well as natural processes, such as legume-plant nitrogen fixation, plant and animal decomposition, and animal waste.
Objectives
- Determine the concentration of nitrate ions, NO3−, in a water sample from a stream or lake.
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.