Analyzing Mercury Concentration in Stream Water

Understanding the Calculation Process

1. Converting ppb to Grams: 1 ppb is equivalent to 1 gram in 10⁹ grams. This conversion factor helps us understand the concentration of mercury in the water sample.

2. Determining the Mass of the Stream: Using the density formula, we can calculate the mass of the stream by multiplying the density by the volume of water. In this case, the density of water is 0.998 g/ml, and the volume is 15.0 L (which is converted to milliliters).

3. Calculating the Quantity of Mercury in Grams: By applying the conversion factor and the calculated mass of the stream, we can determine the final quantity of mercury in grams present in the water sample.

Therefore, the mass of mercury in 15.0 L of water with a 0.68 ppb Hg concentration is 1.5 × 10⁻⁵ grams, showcasing the importance of accurate calculations in analyzing environmental data.