1. pH in water By: Sarah Eggleston

2. pH is determined and recorded as a number between 0 and 14. pH is determined and recorded as a number between 0 and 14. To determine the pH the amount of H + ions found in the substance being tested must be measured. To determine the pH the amount of H + ions found in the substance being tested must be measured.

3. pH Scale An acid is when the pH level is below 7. An acid is when the pH level is below 7. The measurement for an acid is between 0 and 7. The measurement for an acid is between 0 and 7. A base is when the pH level is above 7. A base is when the pH level is above 7. The measurement for a base is anywhere between 7 and 14. The measurement for a base is anywhere between 7 and 14. A neutral is when the pH level is 7. A neutral is when the pH level is 7. Neutral means the H+ and OH- ions are equal. Neutral means the H+ and OH- ions are equal.

4. Many organisms are able to handle a wide range of pH. Many organisms are able to handle a wide range of pH. pH: 3.0-3.5 unlikely for fish to survive more then a few hours. pH: 3.0-3.5 unlikely for fish to survive more then a few hours. 3.5-4.0 lethal to salmonids 3.5-4.0 lethal to salmonids 4.0-4.5 lethal to all fish, most frogs, insects absent 4.0-4.5 lethal to all fish, most frogs, insects absent 4.5-5.0 lethal to Mayfly and many insects. 4.5-5.0 lethal to Mayfly and many insects. 5.0-5.5 bottom dwelling bacteria die 5.0-5.5 bottom dwelling bacteria die 6.0-6.5 not likely lethal to fish 6.0-6.5 not likely lethal to fish 6.5-8.2 optimal to most organisms 6.5-8.2 optimal to most organisms 8.2-9.0 may not directly hurt fish but indirectly begin to 8.2-9.0 may not directly hurt fish but indirectly begin to 9.0-10.5 harmful to salmonids, lethal if present long 9.0-10.5 harmful to salmonids, lethal if present long 10.5-11.0 lethal to salmonids 10.5-11.0 lethal to salmonids 11.0-14.0 lethal to all fish or organisms 11.0-14.0 lethal to all fish or organisms

5. Sources of pH Strong acid sources with pH of 4-5: leaves and leaf-mold of oak, beech, chestnut, blueberry, huckleberry, laurel, azalea, and rhododendron. Needles of hemlock, spruce, fir, and pine. Cottonseed meal and apple pomace. Strong acid sources with pH of 4-5: leaves and leaf-mold of oak, beech, chestnut, blueberry, huckleberry, laurel, azalea, and rhododendron. Needles of hemlock, spruce, fir, and pine. Cottonseed meal and apple pomace. Moderate acid sources with pH of 5-6: leaves and leaf- mold of red maple and most birches. Moderate acid sources with pH of 5-6: leaves and leaf- mold of red maple and most birches. Slight acid or neutral sources with pH of 6-7: lawn clippings, garden plants, hay, ground corncobs. Leaves of hickory, butternut, ash, most maples, elm, dogwood, poplar, basswood, willow, tulip-tree. Various animal manures Slight acid or neutral sources with pH of 6-7: lawn clippings, garden plants, hay, ground corncobs. Leaves of hickory, butternut, ash, most maples, elm, dogwood, poplar, basswood, willow, tulip-tree. Various animal manures

6. pH levels around the US These are pH levels reported for natural water sources in the US. These are pH levels reported for natural water sources in the US. Rivers U.S. Potomac (MD, PA, WV) 7.8-8.4 Rivers U.S. Potomac (MD, PA, WV) 7.8-8.4 Ohio (OH, IN, KY) 7.0-9.0 Delaware (PA, NJ) 7.4-7.6 Ohio (OH, IN, KY) 7.0-9.0 Delaware (PA, NJ) 7.4-7.6 Colorado (CA, AZ) 7.7-8.5 Hillsborough (FL) 7.1-8.2 Colorado (CA, AZ) 7.7-8.5 Hillsborough (FL) 7.1-8.2 Snake (ID) 7.6-8.4 Little (MA) 6.2-6.5 Snake (ID) 7.6-8.4 Little (MA) 6.2-6.5 Rio Grande (CO, NM, TX)Arkansas (AR, OK, KS, CO) 7.4-8.6 Rio Grande (CO, NM, TX)Arkansas (AR, OK, KS, CO) 7.4-8.6 Missouri (NE, KS, MO) 7.8-8.5Brazos, Trinity, Colorado, Guadalupe (TX) 7.2-8.5Mississippi( MN, WI, IL, MO) 7.6-8.9 Missouri (NE, KS, MO) 7.8-8.5Brazos, Trinity, Colorado, Guadalupe (TX) 7.2-8.5Mississippi( MN, WI, IL, MO) 7.6-8.9 Great LakesLake Michigan (MI, IN, IL, WI) 7.5-8.5 Great LakesLake Michigan (MI, IN, IL, WI) 7.5-8.5 Lake Ontario (NY) 7.9-8.3 Lake Ontario (NY) 7.9-8.3

7. References http://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htm http://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htm http://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htm http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/gen- peapp-ph.html http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/gen- peapp-ph.html http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/gen- peapp-ph.html http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/facts-slides-self/facts/gen- peapp-ph.html http://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htm http://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htm http://www.rwater.com/education/chem.htm