Example Question in Paper 3 for chapter Endangered Ecosystem.

Ques: How to determine the level of water pollution from different sources such as drain area, factories area, well area (kawasan perigi) and tap water. Problem Statement: How do the water samples from different sources affect the time taken for decolourisation of methylene blue solution/ BOD/ level of pollution? Variables: Manipulated: water samples from different sources/ factories area, drain area, well area and tap water. Responding: Time taken for decolourisation of methylene blue solution. Fixed: Same volume of water samples from different sources. Hypothesis: Water samples at factories area has the shortest time taken for decolourisation of methylene blue solution compare to drain area, well area, and tap water. Materials: water samples at different sources, methylene blue solution. Apparatus: reagent bottles, measuring cylinder, beaker, syringe, glass cover, cupboard, and stopwatch. Procedure: 1) 200ml of water samples from the source of factories area were collected and placed in a reagent bottle A. 2) Repeat step 1 with water sample from the source of drain area and placed in a reagent bottle B. Water sample from the source of well area is placed in a reagent bottle C. Tap water sample is placed in a reagent bottle D. 3) By using a syringe, 1ml of methylene blue solution is added to the bottom of each water samples from different sources.

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The reagent bottles were closed with its glass cover quickly.

5) The reagent bottles are placed in a dark cupboard and not to shake them. 6) The stopwatch is started. 7) At interval of 1 hour for a period of 4 hours each reagent bottle is examined to see the colour change of methylene blue solution. 8) The time taken for decolourisation of methylene blue solution is recorded by using a stopwatch. 9) All the results are recorded in a table. Presentation of Data: Water samples from different sources i) Factories area ii) Drain area iii) Well area iv) Tap water Discussion: 1) The Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) is the total amount of oxygen used by microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi which decompose organic matter in a sample of water.
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Time taken (hour) of decolourisation of methylene blue 3 hours 4 hours 5 hours 6 hours

A low BOD value is a sign that the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water is high. When the BOD value is high, the amount of oxygen dissolved in the water is low, that is there is a high degree of pollution in the sample of water with organic matter.

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4) The high BOD values shows that the sign of the oxygen content is lowest and that the sam ple of water is most polluted.

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The fastest time of bleaching of the methylene blue is a sign that the water contains the least amount of oxygen and the B.O.D (Biological Oxygen Demand) value is highest.

6) As an example, the usual BOD value for water polluted by human waste is 200-400ppm (parts per million).
7)

Drinking water should have BOD value of less than 1ppm.