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The Effect of Chromium on Algal Populations

The Effect of Chromium on Algal Populations. Peter Chekan Central Catholic High School Pittsburgh. Surface Runoff. Flow of water from rain or melting snow Soil's saturation level is filled to capacity Water might pick up dangerous chemicals

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The Effect of Chromium on Algal Populations

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  1. The Effect of Chromium on Algal Populations Peter Chekan Central Catholic High School Pittsburgh

  2. Surface Runoff • Flow of water from rain or melting snow • Soil's saturation level is filled to capacity • Water might pick up dangerous chemicals • Pesticides, insecticides, and chromium • Surface water runoff might untimely enter rivers, lakes, or other bodies of water

  3. Chromium • 24th element in the periodic table. • Heavy metal • Soluble in water • Breaks up into ions • Hexaaquachromium or [Cr(H2O)6]3+. • Potassium Chromate

  4. Potassium Chromate • K2CrO4 • Yellow • Powder form • Soluble in water • Used as a solution in experiment

  5. Chromium Runoff • Because of its solubility, it poses a threat to aquatic life. • It is often used in paints, dyes, and chrome plating.

  6. Chromium Effect on Pittsburgh • Used to give steel polished silvery coating • Used as an alloy for stainless steel • Many rivers in Pittsburgh

  7. Euglena • Single celled protists • Lives in fresh water • Oval shaped • Between 20-300μm long • Bottom of the food chain • Used as an experimental algal model

  8. Purpose Determine if chromium inhibits the growth of aquatic life To estimate the minimum concentration of potassium chromate detrimental to euglena

  9. Hypothesis Null Hypothesis • The potassium chromate concentrations will not significantly affect euglena population growth • The potassium chromate concentrations will significantly affect euglena population growth

  10. Materials • Spectrophotometer • Test Tubes • Test Tube Rack • Potassium Chromate • Euglenasp. • Macro Pipettes • Micro Pipettes • Pipette tips • Spring Water

  11. Procedure • The following experimental tubes were created

  12. Procedure Continued • The test tubes were placed in a dark room with a controlled source of light for 12 hours • All tubes were mixed by inversion prior to spectrophotometry • The absorbance of algae was measured everyday by a spectrophotometer using a wavelength of 430nm • Absorbance was recorded everyday for 20 days

  13. P=0.02227 P<0.01 P<0.01 P<0.01 P<0.01 P<0.01

  14. Conclusion • The statistical analyses allow a REJECTION of the null hypothesis, indicating that potassium chromate can significantly effect euglena population growth • All tested potassium chromate concentrations resulted in significant changes in the euglena populations

  15. Limitations/Extensions • Use lower concentrations of chromium • Use larger sample sizes • Test different types of algae • Test natural aquatic systems

  16. References • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euglena • http://www.lenntech.com/Periodic-chart-elements/Cren.htm • http://topsoil.nserl.purdue.edu/nserlweb/weppmain/overview/runoff.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surface_runoff • http://www.chemguide.co.uk/inorganic/transition/chromium.html • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_chromate • http://www.jtbaker.com/msds/englishhtml/p5642.htm

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