DISCUSSION

Based on the experiment Free Chlorine And Ammonia Nitrogen (AN), our group is
required to carry out test to determine the amount of residual chlorine from a
treated sources and Ammonia Nitrogen (AN) from wastewater sources. The
objective of this experiment is to determine the residual chlorine and AN in treated
water and wastewater respectively.

When chlorine is dissolved in water, it reacts with the 𝐻+ ions and the 𝑂𝐻−
radicals in water to form hypochlorous acid, HOCl and hypochlorite radical, 𝑂𝐶𝑙 − .
These are the free chlorine and the actual disinfecting agents. Free chlorine is the
preferred form for disinfection of drinking water because it works faster and does
not cause objectionable tastes and odors. It is assumed that the presence of chlorine
residual ensures that there are no surviving pathogenic organisms in the water.

Common form of nitrogen is organic ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and gaseous

nitrogen. Nitrogenous organic matter such as protein is essential to living system.
Industrial wastes are often tested for nitrogen and phosphorus content to ensure
that there are sufficient nutrients for biological treatment. Since nitrogen in natural
water is limited, pollution from nitrogen wastes can promote the growth of algae,
causing green-coloured water. Ammonia is also considered a serious water
pollutant because of its toxic effect on fishes.

From the experiment, the data that our group obtained from Free Chlorine And
Ammonia Nitrogen (AN) that our group have done, our group use three type of
wastewater which is tap water, river water and lake water in experiment free
chlorine and ammonia nitrogen using DR 890 or DR 500 Spectrometer. Therefore,
the data that our group gets for experiment free chlorine using tap water is 0.21
mg/l. For experiment free chlorine using river water is 0.00 mg/l and using lake
water is 0.24 mg/l. Then, the data that our group gets in experiment ammonia
nitrogen (AN) using tap water is 0.05 mg/l, using river water is 0.77 mg/l and
using lake water is 0.18 mg/l.
From the data that our group got, this values show that this water is not safe for
drinking water. This is because, based on the WHO (1993), a residual
concentration of free chlorine of greater than or equal to 0.5 mg/L (0.5 ppm or
parts per million) after at least 30 minutes contact time at pH less than 8.0.” This
definition is only appropriate when users drink water directly from the flowing tap.
A free chlorine level of 0.5 mg/L of free chlorine will be enough residual to
maintain the quality of water through the distribution network, but is most likely
not adequate to maintain the quality of the water when this water is stored in the
home in a bucket or jerry can for 24 hours.

In this experiment Free Chlorine And Ammonia Nitrogen, the errors that our group
can find is parallax error which is the eye is not perpendicular to the measurement.
For example, fill a 10 mL mixing graduated cylinder to the 10 mL mark with
sample. To avoid the parallax error, the eye must be perpendicular to the
measurement. Then, the error when using the DR 890 or DR 500 Spectrometer.
For example, touch the wrong button when using. So, make sure read the manual
first before using the apparatus. Lastly, touch the bottom of the 10 mL graduated
cylinder and leaving the finger prints and then put in the DR 890 or DR 500
Spectrometer. This will record the wrong data because the DR 890 or DR 500
Spectrometer will read the finger print at the 10 mL graduated cylinder. So, use the
mineral stabilizer to clean the bottom of the 10 mL graduated cylinder so that it
will record the right data.