Massachusetts Wastewater Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Massachusetts Wastewater Exam with our comprehensive quiz. Utilize flashcards and multiple-choice questions, each loaded with hints and explanations. Ensure success for your test day!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

Which chemical may be used for the adjustment of pH?

Ozone
Sodium Hydroxide
Copper
Tetrachloroethylene

The correct answer is: Sodium Hydroxide

Sodium hydroxide is commonly used for pH adjustment because it is a strong base that can effectively increase the pH of water. When sodium hydroxide is added to water, it dissociates into sodium ions and hydroxide ions, which raises the overall pH level. This is a crucial process in wastewater treatment, as the pH level can significantly impact the efficiency of biological treatment processes and the solubility of certain contaminants. Maintaining the proper pH is essential for the health of microorganisms involved in biological treatment and helps prevent corrosion in pipes and equipment. The other options do not serve the purpose of pH adjustment effectively. Ozone is primarily used as a disinfectant and to remove odor and taste from water but does not adjust pH directly. Copper is a metal and does not have pH adjustment capabilities; in fact, it can lead to toxicity issues in high concentrations. Tetrachloroethylene, a solvent, is used in dry cleaning and industrial applications but does not serve any role in adjusting the pH of a solution. Therefore, sodium hydroxide is the appropriate choice for pH adjustment in wastewater treatment.