How Do We Make Drinking Water Drinkable?

Since we began our unit on water, the 8th grade has been exploring the chemistry of our favorite liquid. This week, we are learning about how chlorination is used to eliminate harmful substances in our drinking water.

To find out more, this week we will look at the City of Chicago Water Treatment website. Respond to the questions below on the Lab Debrief page of your science notebook.

1) The site tells us that water easily picks up pollutants and dangerous substances because it is a very good solvent. What is a solvent? Go here and write the definition you find. Then write the definition of solute. Draw a picture to help you remember which is which.

2) What is the concentration (in parts-per-million) of chemicals added to our drinking water?

3) Take a look at this Chicago water timeline. What year did engineers reverse the flow of the Chicago River to help keep Lake Michigan clean? What year did chlorination begin? Write your responses in complete sentences.