1. Commercially Sold Water versus pH Level
By Abigail Butterwick

2. Problem
High levels of acidity (low pH level) or alkalinity (high pH level) can be harmful.
Purpose
To find the pH level of commercially sold water and compare to the pH of tap water to determine which is closest to the healthy pH range for humans ( ).

3. Question
Which brand of commercially sold bottled water has the closest pH level to the healthy pH range for humans ( )?

4. Vocabulary (alphabetical order)
Acidity--the level of acid in substances such as water, soil, or wine
Alkalinity--the quantitative capacity of an aqueous solution to neutralize an acid
Aqueous--of or containing water, typically as a solvent or medium
Atom--the basic unit of a chemical element
Electron--a stable subatomic particle with a charge of negative electricity, found in all atoms and acting as the primary carrier of electricity in solids
Heat Energy--a form of energy that is transferred by difference in temperature
Hydrogen--a colorless, odorless, highly flammable gas, the chemical element of atomic number 1
Hydrogen ion--the nucleus of a hydrogen atom separated from its accompanying electron
Ion--an atom or molecule with a net electric charge due to the loss or gain of one or more electrons

5. Vocabulary (alphabetical order; cont.)
Kinetic Energy--energy that a body possesses by virtue of being in motion
pH--a measure of hydrogen ion concentration; a measure of acidity or alkalinity of an aqueous solution
pH color scale--a scale used to measure the pH level of an aqueous solution when using pH paper
pH meter--an instrument or tool used to measure the exact pH level of an aqueous solution
pH paper--used to measure pH level; often paired with a pH color scale
Potential Energy--the energy possessed by a body by virtue of its position relative to others, stresses within itself, electric charge, and other factors
Temperature--a degree of intensity or heat present in an object
Thermal Energy--the internal energy of an object due to the kinetic energy of its atoms and/or molecules
Water--a clear liquid that has no color, taste, or smell; essential to all living things; pure water has a pH level of 7 (neutral)

6. Hypothesis
If FIJI water, VOSS Still Water, and Deer Park Natural Spring Water are compared to tap water to measure the pH level, then Deer Park Natural Spring Water will have the pH level the closest to the healthy range for humans ( ).

7. Materials
1 pH meter (maker and model does not matter; simply follow directions for pH meter use)
1 liter of tap water
1 liter of FIJI Water
1 liter of VOSS Still Water
1 liter of Deer Park Natural Spring Water
Twelve 532 mL (~18 oz) plastic cups
1 measuring cup with metric units
12 filter papers
1 liter of distilled water

8. FIJI Water, VOSS Water, Deer Park Water
Experimental Groups
FIJI Water, VOSS Water, Deer Park Water
Control Group
Tap water
Control Variables
Environmentals
pH meter
Size of plastic cups
Temperature of water
Amount of water
Time meter is in water
Length of probe put into water
Time water sits before testing
Dependent Variable
pH level of water
Independent Variable
Brand of bottled water

9. Test Preparation Procedure
Store tap water, FIJI Water, VOSS Still Water, and Deer Park Natural Spring Water at room temperature.
Let tap water, FIJI Water, VOSS Still Water, and Deer Park Natural Spring Water sit in room temperature for one to two hours to ensure that the water is all the same temperature.
Measure and record temperature of water while in the room temperature.
Water
Tap water
FIJI Water
VOSS Still Water
Deer Park Water
Temperature
(Celsius)
22.0
21.7
21.3

10. Test Procedure
Label three 18-ounce plastic cups Tap A, Tap B, and Tap C.
Label three more 18-ounce plastic cups FIJI A, FIJI B, and FIJI C.
Label three more 18-ounce plastic cups VOSS A, VOSS B, and VOSS C.
Label three more 18-ounce plastic cups Deer Park A, Deer Park B, and Deer Park C.
Remove tap water from refrigerator.
Use a measuring cup to measure out 290 milliliters, or ~1.25 cups, of tap water. Pour the water into the 18-ounce plastic cup labelled “Tap A.” Return tap water to refrigerator
Place the pH meter in the water, let pH meter sit in water for five seconds, record pH and remove pH probe.
Rinse pH meter in distilled water and dry with filter paper.
Repeat steps 6-8 with the plastic cup labeled “Tap B.” Record the result of the test with Tap B as the result of Trial 2 for the tap water.

11. Test Procedure Cont.
Repeat steps 6-8 with the plastic cup labelled “Tap C.” Record the result of the Tap C test as the result of Trial 3 for tap water.
Find the average of the results for the three trials for tap water and record the results as the average pH level of tap water.
Remove the FIJI water from the refrigerator.
Repeat steps 6-12 using FIJI water.
Repeat steps 6-12 using VOSS water.
Repeat steps 6-12 using Deer Park Water.

13. Commercially
Sold
Water vs
pH Level
pH Level
Water
pH Units
Tap A
7.0
Tap B
7.2
Tap C
Tap Avg.
7.1
FIJI A
FIJI B
FIJI C
FIJI Avg.
pH Level
Water
pH Units
VOSS A
6.5
VOSS B
6.4
VOSS C
VOSS Avg.
Deer Park A
6.8
Deer Park B
Deer Park C
6.9
Deer Park Av.

14. Commercially Sold Water
Commercially Sold Water vs. pH Level
pH Level
Commercially Sold Water

15. Commercially Sold Water
Commercially Sold Water vs. pH Level Averages
Average pH Level
Commercially Sold Water

16. Data Analysis
VOSS Still Water had the lowest average pH level at an average of 6.4 pH units, which is 0.6 units lower than the healthy range for the human body.
Deer Park Natural Spring Water had the second lowest average pH level at an average of 6.8 pH units, which is 0.2 units lower than the healthy range for the human body.
Both tap water and FIJI Water had an average pH level inside the healthy range for the human body (7.0 to 7.8) at averages of 7.1 for tap water and 7.0 for FIJI water.
The average pH level of tap water (7.1) is higher than the average of the experimental groups (6.7).
VOSS Still Water Average (6.4) < Deer Park Natural Spring Water Average (6.8) < FIJI Water Average (7.0) < Tap water average (7.1)

17. Conclusion
If FIJI water, VOSS Still Water, and Deer Park Natural Spring Water are compared to tap water to measure the pH level, then tap water and FIJI water will have the pH level the closest to the healthy pH range for humans ( ).

18. Sources of Error Incorrect calibration of pH meter
Lack of calibration of pH meter
Incorrect cleaning of pH meter between testing
Unconsidered contaminants in water that could have affected pH level

19. Future Studies
There are several ways this study could be expanded. Here are only a few examples of how the experiment could be expanded:
Test the pH level of other water brands (Dasani, Aquafina, etc.)
Test the pH level of other beverages (sodas, juices)
Test the pH level of soils

20. Works Cited
"FAQs Archive." FIJI Water, Accessed 6 Oct
"How Acidity affects us." H20 for Health, Accessed 6 Oct
Martin, Laura J., et al., editors. "Alkalosis." MedlinePlus, A.D.A.M., medlineplus.gov/ency/article/ htm. Accessed 6 Oct
"2015 Water Analysis Report." Nestle Waters North America, 2015, Accessed 6 Oct
"VOSS Bottled Water Quality Report." VOSS Water, Accessed 6 Oct

21. Works Cited Cont.
Zeratsky, Katherine, R.D., L.D. "Is alkaline water better for you than plain water?" Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 4 Apr. 2015, Accessed 6 Oct