# CBSE Investigatory Project: Studying the Purification of Water

## Certificate

This is to certify that [Your Name], a student of Class XII, [School Name],
has successfully completed the Chemistry/Biology Investigatory Project
titled **”Studying the Purification of Water”** under the guidance of
[Teacher’s Name] during the academic year 2025-26 as per the guidelines
of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE).

**Teacher’s Signature**: ___________________

**Examiner’s Signature**: ___________________

**Date**: ___________________

## Acknowledgement

I express my heartfelt gratitude to my Chemistry/Biology teacher,

[Teacher’s Name], for their unwavering guidance, encouragement, and
valuable suggestions throughout the completion of this project. I am
deeply thankful to the principal of [School Name] for providing access to
the laboratory facilities and necessary resources. I also extend my
appreciation to my parents and classmates for their constant support and
assistance during the experimental work. Finally, I acknowledge the
various online and offline resources that enriched my understanding of
water purification techniques.

[Your Name]

Class XII

[School Name]

## Index

1. Aim

2. Introduction
3. Objectives

4. Theoretical Background

5. Materials Required

6. Experimental Procedure

7. Observations

8. Results and Discussion

9. Applications

10. Conclusion

11. Precautions

12. Future Scope

13. Bibliography

14. Annexure (Diagrams/Photos)

## 1. Aim

To study and compare the effectiveness of various water purification

methods, including filtration, boiling, and chemical treatment
(chlorination), in removing physical, chemical, and biological impurities
from contaminated water samples.

## 2. Introduction

Water is a fundamental resource for sustaining life, yet its contamination

poses significant health risks globally. According to the World Health
Organization (WHO), contaminated water is responsible for diseases like
cholera, dysentery, and typhoid, affecting millions annually. Water
impurities can be classified into three categories:

- **Physical Impurities**: Suspended particles like sand, silt, and clay that
cause turbidity.

- **Chemical Impurities**: Dissolved salts, heavy metals, and organic

compounds that alter pH or toxicity.

- **Biological Impurities**: Pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria,

viruses, and protozoa.
Water purification is the process of removing these impurities to make
water safe for drinking and other uses. Common household methods
include filtration (to remove suspended solids), boiling (to kill
microorganisms), and chemical treatments like chlorination (to disinfect
water). Advanced methods like distillation, reverse osmosis, and UV
treatment are used industrially but are beyond the scope of this project
due to equipment limitations.

This project investigates the efficacy of three accessible purification

methods—filtration, boiling, and chlorination—by analyzing their impact
on water clarity, pH, and microbial content. The study aims to provide
insights into cost-effective and practical solutions for water purification,
particularly in resource-limited settings.

## 3. Objectives

1. To evaluate the effectiveness of filtration in removing suspended

particles from contaminated water.

2. To assess the ability of boiling to eliminate biological contaminants.

3. To study the role of chlorination in disinfecting water.

4. To compare the purified water samples with a control (untreated)

sample and distilled water in terms of clarity, pH, and microbial content.

5. To understand the limitations of each purification method and propose a

combined approach for optimal results.

## 4. Theoretical Background

Water purification involves targeting specific impurities to ensure water

safety. Below is a detailed explanation of the methods studied:

### a) Filtration

Filtration is a physical process that removes suspended particles by

passing water through a porous medium, such as filter paper, sand, or
cloth. The medium traps larger particles while allowing water to pass
through. Filtration is effective for improving clarity but does not remove
dissolved salts, chemicals, or microorganisms smaller than the pore size of
the filter.

### b) Boiling

Boiling water at 100°C for at least 1–5 minutes kills most pathogenic
microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and protozoa. The heat
denatures proteins in microbial cells, rendering them inactive. Boiling does
not remove physical or chemical impurities, such as turbidity or dissolved
salts, and requires cooling before use.

### c) Chlorination

Chlorination involves adding chlorine-based compounds (e.g., chlorine

tablets or sodium hypochlorite) to water to kill microorganisms. Chlorine
reacts with microbial cell walls, disrupting their metabolism. It is widely
used in municipal water treatment but must be carefully dosed to avoid
health risks from residual chlorine.

### d) Water Quality Parameters

- **Clarity/Turbidity**: Measured visually or with a turbidimeter, indicating

the presence of suspended particles.

- **pH**: Measured using pH paper or a pH meter, indicating acidity or

alkalinity (ideal drinking water pH: 6.5–8.5).

- **Microbial Content**: Assessed via microscopy or microbial testing kits

to detect the presence of living organisms.

This project combines these methods to assess their individual and

complementary roles in water purification.

## 5. Materials Required

- Contaminated water samples (e.g., pond water, muddy water, or tap

water mixed with soil)

- Clean beakers (250 mL, 500 mL)

- Filter paper (Whatman No. 1)

- Funnel
- Sand, gravel, and activated charcoal (for sand filter)

- Cotton cloth

- Gas burner or electric stove

- Thermometer

- pH paper/strips or pH meter

- Chlorine tablets or sodium hypochlorite solution

- Test tubes

- Dropper

- Measuring cylinder (100 mL)

- Stopwatch

- Distilled water (for comparison)

- Microscope and slides (optional, for microbial observation)

- Safety equipment (gloves, goggles)

- Stirring rod

- Clean containers for storing purified water

## 6. Experimental Procedure

### Step 1: Sample Collection

1. Collect 1 liter of contaminated water from a natural source (e.g., pond,

river) or prepare a sample by mixing tap water with soil to simulate
turbidity.

2. Divide the sample into four parts, labeled:

- Sample A: Control (untreated)

- Sample B: For filtration

- Sample C: For boiling

- Sample D: For chlorination

3. Store samples in clean, labeled containers.

### Step 2: Filtration

1. **Simple Filtration**:

- Set up a funnel with Whatman No. 1 filter paper over a clean 250 mL
beaker.

- Pour 200 mL of Sample B through the filter paper.

- Collect the filtrate in a beaker labeled B1.

2. **Sand Filtration**:

- Prepare a sand filter by layering a clean funnel with cotton cloth

(bottom), fine sand (middle), and gravel (top).

- Pour another 200 mL of Sample B through the sand filter.

- Collect the filtrate in a beaker labeled B2.

3. Observe and record the clarity of B1 and B2.

### Step 3: Boiling

1. Pour 200 mL of Sample C into a clean 250 mL beaker.

2. Place the beaker on a burner and heat until the water reaches a rolling
boil (100°C, confirmed with a thermometer).

3. Maintain boiling for 5 minutes to ensure microbial elimination.

4. Allow the water to cool to room temperature and transfer to a clean

container labeled C1.

5. Record observations on clarity and any changes in appearance.

### Step 4: Chlorination

1. Pour 200 mL of Sample D into a clean beaker.

2. Add one chlorine tablet (or 1–2 drops of sodium hypochlorite solution,
as per instructions) to the sample.

3. Stir gently with a stirring rod and let it stand for 10 minutes to allow
chlorine to act.

4. Collect the treated water in a container labeled D1.

5. Note any changes in odor or clarity.

### Step 5: Testing Water Quality

1. **Clarity/Turbidity Test**:

- Visually compare the clarity of Samples A, B1, B2, C1, D1, and distilled
water.

- Optionally, use a turbidimeter (if available) to quantify turbidity in NTU

(Nephelometric Turbidity Units).

2. **pH Test**:

- Dip pH paper into each sample (A, B1, B2, C1, D1, and distilled water)
and compare the color change with the pH chart.

- Record the pH values.

3. **Microbial Test** (Optional):

- Place a drop of each sample on a microscope slide.

- Observe under a microscope (40x or 100x magnification) for the

presence of motile microorganisms.

- Record observations qualitatively (e.g., high, low, or no microbial

activity).

4. **Odor Test**:

- Smell each sample to detect any residual odors (e.g., chlorine smell in
D1).

### Step 6: Data Compilation

Compile all observations in tables for clarity, pH, microbial content, and
odor.

## 7. Observations

### Table 1: Clarity/Turbidity Test

| Sample | Observation (Clarity) | Turbidity (Qualitative) |

|--------|-----------------------|-------------------------|

| A (Control) | Highly turbid, visible soil particles | High |

| B1 (Simple Filtration) | Clearer, minimal particles | Low |

| B2 (Sand Filtration) | Very clear, no visible particles | Very Low |

| C1 (Boiled) | Turbid (unchanged from control) | High |

| D1 (Chlorinated) | Turbid (similar to control) | High |

| Distilled Water | Completely clear | None |

### Table 2: pH Test

| Sample | pH Value | Remark |

| A (Control) | 6.7 | Slightly acidic |

| B1 (Simple Filtration) | 6.8 | Slightly acidic |

| B2 (Sand Filtration) | 6.9 | Slightly acidic |

| C1 (Boiled) | 6.7 | Unchanged |

| D1 (Chlorinated) | 7.2 | Slightly alkaline (due to chlorine) |

| Distilled Water | 7.0 | Neutral |

### Table 3: Microbial Test (Optional)

| Sample | Microorganisms Observed | Remark |

|--------|------------------------|-------|

| A (Control) | Numerous motile organisms | Highly contaminated |

| B1 (Simple Filtration) | Reduced organisms | Partial removal |

| B2 (Sand Filtration) | Few organisms | Better than B1 |

| C1 (Boiled) | No motile organisms | Biologically safe |

| D1 (Chlorinated) | No motile organisms | Biologically safe |

| Distilled Water | No organisms | Sterile |

### Table 4: Odor Test

| Sample | Odor |

| A (Control) | Earthy smell |

| B1 (Simple Filtration) | Reduced earthy smell |

| B2 (Sand Filtration) | No significant odor |

| C1 (Boiled) | Earthy smell (unchanged) |

| D1 (Chlorinated) | Slight chlorine smell |

| Distilled Water | Odorless |

## 8. Results and Discussion

The experiment provided valuable insights into the effectiveness of

different water purification methods:

- **Filtration (Simple and Sand)**:

- Simple filtration (B1) removed larger suspended particles, improving

clarity significantly.

- Sand filtration (B2) was more effective due to the layered medium
(sand, gravel, charcoal), which trapped finer particles.

- Neither method altered pH significantly, indicating no effect on

dissolved chemical impurities.

- Microbial content was reduced but not eliminated, as some

microorganisms passed through the filter pores.

- **Boiling (C1)**:

- Boiling effectively killed all observable microorganisms, making the

water biologically safe.

- It had no impact on turbidity or pH, as it does not address physical or

chemical impurities.

- Boiling is energy-intensive and requires cooling, limiting its practicality

in some settings.

- **Chlorination (D1)**:

- Chlorination eliminated microorganisms, similar to boiling, by disrupting

microbial cell structures.

- It slightly increased pH due to the alkaline nature of chlorine

compounds.

- A residual chlorine odor was noted, which may affect taste but indicates
disinfection.

- Like boiling, it did not improve clarity or remove physical impurities.

- **Comparison with Distilled Water**:

 - Distilled water served as the benchmark, being clear, neutral (pH 7.0),
and free of microorganisms.

- None of the tested methods achieved the purity of distilled water,

highlighting their limitations for complete purification.

### Limitations

- Filtration does not remove dissolved salts or all microorganisms.

- Boiling is ineffective against physical and chemical impurities and

requires energy.

- Chlorination may leave residual chemicals, affecting taste and safety if

not properly dosed.

- None of these methods address heavy metals or organic pollutants,

requiring advanced techniques like reverse osmosis.

### Combined Approach

For optimal purification, a multi-step process is recommended:

1. Filtration (sand filter) to remove suspended particles.

2. Boiling or chlorination to eliminate microorganisms.

3. Additional methods (e.g., activated charcoal) to remove chemical

impurities, if feasible.

## 9. Applications

- **Household Use**: Filtration and boiling are accessible for rural

households to treat contaminated water.

- **Community Water Supply**: Chlorination is widely used in municipal

systems for large-scale disinfection.

- **Emergency Situations**: These methods are critical during floods or

natural disasters when water sources are contaminated.

- **Educational Purpose**: Demonstrates practical chemistry/biology

applications in addressing real-world problems.

## 10. Conclusion
The study successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of filtration,
boiling, and chlorination in purifying contaminated water. Filtration
improved physical clarity, boiling and chlorination ensured biological
safety, but none addressed all impurity types comprehensively. A
combination of filtration followed by boiling or chlorination is
recommended for household water treatment. These findings underscore
the importance of accessible purification methods in ensuring safe
drinking water, particularly in areas with limited access to advanced
technologies.

## 11. Precautions

1. Wear gloves and goggles to avoid contact with contaminated water or

chemicals.

2. Use clean, sterilized equipment to prevent cross-contamination.

3. Handle chlorine tablets/solution carefully, following dosage instructions

to avoid toxicity.

4. Ensure proper ventilation during boiling to prevent burns or inhalation

of steam.

5. Dispose of contaminated water samples responsibly to avoid

environmental pollution.

6. Conduct experiments under adult supervision, especially when using

heat or chemicals.

## 12. Future Scope

- Explore advanced purification methods like reverse osmosis or UV

treatment using school laboratory facilities.

- Investigate the removal of specific chemical impurities (e.g., heavy

metals) using activated charcoal or ion-exchange resins.

- Conduct quantitative microbial testing using culture plates to measure

bacterial colony counts.

- Study the cost-effectiveness and scalability of these methods for rural

water purification systems.

- Analyze the environmental impact of chlorination and explore eco-

friendly disinfectants.
## 13. Bibliography

1. NCERT Chemistry Textbook for Class XII, NCERT Publications.

2. NCERT Biology Textbook for Class XII, NCERT Publications.

3. “Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality,” World Health Organization,

www.who.int.

4. “Water Purification Techniques,” ScienceDirect, www.sciencedirect.com.

5. “Practical Chemistry Lab Manual,” [Publisher Name, e.g., Laxmi

Publications].

6. “Water Treatment Principles and Design,” MWH, John Wiley & Sons.

7. Online resources: www.chemguide.co.uk, www.cdc.gov.

## 14. Annexure

- **Diagram 1**: Setup for simple filtration using filter paper and funnel.

- **Diagram 2**: Sand filtration apparatus with layers of cotton, sand, and
gravel.

- **Photo 1**: Contaminated water sample vs. Purified samples.

- **Photo 2**: pH testing with pH paper.

- **Photo 3** (Optional): Microscope slides showing microbial content.

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