Air Quality Lab
Pre-Lab Questions
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Problem
Will there be a greater amount of particulate matter inside or outside and will the ozone level be low during this time of year?
Hypothesis
Since there is more pollution outside than inside a building, there will be more particulate matter outside than inside.
If the temperature is cold, then the amount of ozone in the air should be little to non-exist.
If the temperature is cold, then the amount of ozone in the air should be little to non-exist.
Parts of the Experiment
Independent Variable: where the cards and filter paper were placed
Dependent Variable: amount of particulate matter, amount of ozone
Controlled Variable: materials
Control Group: index with no vaseline on it in petri dish, filter paper in petri dish
Experimental Group: the index cards inside and outside, the filter paper outside
Dependent Variable: amount of particulate matter, amount of ozone
Controlled Variable: materials
Control Group: index with no vaseline on it in petri dish, filter paper in petri dish
Experimental Group: the index cards inside and outside, the filter paper outside
Materials
Potassium Iodide, Corn
starch, & Water mixture
1 Filter paper
2 Index cards
Petroleum Jelly
1 Butter knife
1 Microscope
1 Pencil
1 Filter paper
2 Index cards
Petroleum Jelly
1 Butter knife
1 Microscope
1 Pencil
Procedure
1) Take the two index cards and draw 4 circles on each.
2) Take a butter knife and rub a small layer of petroleum jelly in each of the 4 circles on both cards.
3) Take the filter paper and dip it into the Potassium Iodide, corn starch, & water mixture.
4) Place a index card inside the building.
5) Place the other index card and filter paper outside in a place that is not receiving direct sunlight.
6) Wait for 2 days and then go get the index cards and filter paper.
7) Observe the index cards with a microscope and compare the color of your filter paper with the Schoenbein number chart.
2) Take a butter knife and rub a small layer of petroleum jelly in each of the 4 circles on both cards.
3) Take the filter paper and dip it into the Potassium Iodide, corn starch, & water mixture.
4) Place a index card inside the building.
5) Place the other index card and filter paper outside in a place that is not receiving direct sunlight.
6) Wait for 2 days and then go get the index cards and filter paper.
7) Observe the index cards with a microscope and compare the color of your filter paper with the Schoenbein number chart.
Observations
The index card from inside the building had no particulates at all. The vaseline had no change in color or any dots on it. The index from outside had tiny brown and black dots on it. The vaseline had little to no color change and there was a light amount of dots on it. The filter paper had a purple hue to it and was a darker purple around the edges. It also had a brownish tint to it.
Data Table and Graphs
Analysis and Conclusions Specific to Lab
1) The level of ozone was about a 48 ppb and this meets the standards set by the EPA . Compared to the standards, the town of Wake Forest's ozone is low but is still a little high for a town. Although it was below the standard, the measurement might not be accurate because on the day it was outside it rained and was very windy so that might have affected the results.
2) Many of the counties in non-compliance with the act are located in states that have many industrial businesses and are very populated, so they produce more pollution than other states. Also, those countries more than likely are where the industrial businesses are located and are more populated than the other counties, so they have a higher ozone level than the other counties.
3) Particulate matter was probably not part of the act until the 1990's because many probably did not know that it was even a pollutant or that it was in the air. Also, the technology back then was not as advanced as today so they probably did not know the health effects associated with particulate matter.
4) Yes, the samples did meet my expectations because I assume there would be no particulate matter inside and there would be more outside, since there is really no pollution happening in the school and outside is where many pollutants come from.
5) Air quality monitoring is important for the health of the economy because it helps to make people aware of the effects of polluted air and helps to prevent us from having the cost of cleaning polluted air added to our government spending, when all we have to do is monitor our pollution levels and keep them low. Also, since we do not have that added cost, there is more money for other programs to stimulate the economy.
2) Many of the counties in non-compliance with the act are located in states that have many industrial businesses and are very populated, so they produce more pollution than other states. Also, those countries more than likely are where the industrial businesses are located and are more populated than the other counties, so they have a higher ozone level than the other counties.
3) Particulate matter was probably not part of the act until the 1990's because many probably did not know that it was even a pollutant or that it was in the air. Also, the technology back then was not as advanced as today so they probably did not know the health effects associated with particulate matter.
4) Yes, the samples did meet my expectations because I assume there would be no particulate matter inside and there would be more outside, since there is really no pollution happening in the school and outside is where many pollutants come from.
5) Air quality monitoring is important for the health of the economy because it helps to make people aware of the effects of polluted air and helps to prevent us from having the cost of cleaning polluted air added to our government spending, when all we have to do is monitor our pollution levels and keep them low. Also, since we do not have that added cost, there is more money for other programs to stimulate the economy.
General Analysis and Conclusions
In all, the experiment was ok but it could have been better. It would have been better if it had been done on a different day because the results may not be accurate for the ozone level. This may have been due to all the rain and wind. The results did not support my hypothesis that since the temperature was low, then there would be little to no ground-level ozone. On the other hand, the particulate matter results were accurate and supported the hypothesis that there would be more outside than inside. The results for particulate in air were light which is good sign. The results of the ozone test may not be accurate, but if they are, then the town of Wake Forest needs to work on lowering their pollution and monitoring it better. There are many programs set in place to help to do this for example there is a program called EnviroFlash that helps to monitor ozone level in the area where a person lives, and sends texts and e-mails to the individual with updates on the air quality. Programs like these can help people monitor and lower the pollution in their area.
"DEQ EnviroFlash notification system helps citizens monitor air quality Read more: ZacharyToday.com - DEQ EnviroFlash notification system helps citizens monitor air quality." Zachary Today.com [Zachary, LA]. Radiate Media , 7 Feb. 2013. Web. 7 Feb. 2013. <http://www.zacharytoday.com/view/full_story/21659436/article-DEQ-EnviroFlash-notification-system-helps-citizens-monitor-air-quality?instance=secondary_news_left_column>.
"DEQ EnviroFlash notification system helps citizens monitor air quality Read more: ZacharyToday.com - DEQ EnviroFlash notification system helps citizens monitor air quality." Zachary Today.com [Zachary, LA]. Radiate Media , 7 Feb. 2013. Web. 7 Feb. 2013. <http://www.zacharytoday.com/view/full_story/21659436/article-DEQ-EnviroFlash-notification-system-helps-citizens-monitor-air-quality?instance=secondary_news_left_column>.