Water sample analysis: dissolved solids
I can apply techniques to analyse water samples containing dissolved substances.
Water sample analysis: dissolved solids
I can apply techniques to analyse water samples containing dissolved substances.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Data can be analysed to assess the purity of water samples containing dissolved solids.
- Evaporation set-ups can be used to collect dissolved solids from a water sample.
Keywords
Sample - A smaller portion of a larger quantity of a substance.
Dissolve - When a substance's particles separate and spread throughout the particles of a solvent resulting in it no longer being seen.
Analysis - Process of separating and quantifying the components of a sample to understand its nature and composition.
Common misconception
All water is the same.
The dissolved solid content of water samples is affected by the environment from which it was obtained.
To help you plan your year 10 chemistry lesson on: Water sample analysis: dissolved solids, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 chemistry lesson on: Water sample analysis: dissolved solids, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 4 chemistry lessons from the Separating substances unit, dive into the full secondary chemistry curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Four glass beakers, four large watch glass, tripod, gauze, Bunsen burner, heatproof mat, samples of 'pure', 'sea', 'rain' and 'ground' water, dropping pipettes, balance measuring to 2 decimal places.
Content guidance
- Risk assessment required - equipment
Supervision
Adult supervision required