Worksheet: Water Treatment
In this worksheet, we will practice describing methods of water purification and exploring their advantages, limitations, and common applications.
Q2:
Which of the following is not a source of fresh water?
- AOceans
- BAquifers
- CLakes
- DRivers
- ERainwater
Q3:
When preparing potable water from freshwater sources, the water is first passed through a coarse screen. What is the purpose of this screen?
- ATo help oxygen dissolve in the water
- BTo neutralize acid in the water
- CTo catalyze the breakdown of contaminants
- DTo mix the water thoroughly
- ETo removed large objects from the water
Q4:
Which of the following is not a reason why there are more steps in the process of producing potable water from wastewater than from fresh water?
- AWastewater contains more organic matter.
- BWastewater contains a lot of dissolved salts and minerals.
- CWastewater must be treated with stronger detergents and chemicals.
- DWastewater contains greater amounts of harmful bacteria.
- EWastewater contains more toxic chemicals.
Q5:
What usage of water requires the water to be treated by chlorination?
- AWater for industrial cooling
- BWater for farming
- CWater for electricity generation in power plants
- DWater for drinking
- EWater for washing clothes
Q6:
What is the primary goal of the desalination process when producing potable water from saltwater?
- AKilling bacteria in the saltwater
- BRemoving fine particles held in suspension in the saltwater
- CRemoving salts and minerals from the saltwater
- DRemoving large stones found in the saltwater
- ERemoving hydrogen ions and neutralizing the saltwater
Q7:
Why are laboratory solutions usually prepared using pure water instead of tap water?
- ATap water contains bacteria that may affect chemical reactions.
- BTap water may contain small particles of dirt.
- CTap water contains dissolved impurities that may affect chemical reactions.
- DPure water is slightly acidic, which helps in dissolving ionic compounds.
- EPure water is cheaper than tap water.
Q8:
Why is chlorination an essential treatment in the production of potable water?
- AChlorination removes small particles of dirt.
- BChlorination ensures the water has a neutral pH.
- CChlorination improves the taste of the water.
- DChlorination kills the bacteria in the water.
- EChlorination removes some types of potassium-based fertilizers.
Q9:
Which of the following statements does not explain why distillation is a poor method for producing drinking water from seawater in large quantities?
- ADistillation uses a large amount of energy.
- BDistillation takes a long time.
- CLarge scale distillation equipment is expensive.
- DLarge volumes of seawater must be run through the distillation equipment.
- EThe large quantities of energy needed are expensive.
Q10:
When river water is purified, small amounts of fertilizers are often still present in the water after purification. Which of the following statements explains why this is the case?
- AFertilizers are used at water treatment plants to kill the bacteria in the water.
- BVery large quantities of fertilizers exist in the untreated river water and it is difficult to remove them all.
- CThe steps in the purification process do not remove soluble substances.
- DFertilizers build up in the pipes at water treatment plants and contaminate the treated water.
- EDistillation does not separate the water from the compounds of the fertilizers.
Q11:
The water from an underground source is clear when it is brought to the surface from a well, whereas the water from a local river is cloudy. Which of the following statements is true about how both types of water should be treated if they are to be used for drinking water?
- ABoth types of water need to be chlorinated, and the water from the river should be filtered.
- BThe water from the river should be filtered and chlorinated, while the water from the well can be drunk immediately.
- CBoth types of water need to be filtered and chlorinated.
- DBoth types of water can be drunk immediately with no treatment.
- EThe water from the river should be chlorinated, while the water from the well can be drunk immediately.