Chapter 19, Problem 19TE

Many homeowners get their drinking water pipes up from wells dug on their property. Sometime this well water smells bad because of trace quantities of the gaseous compound hydrogen sulphide, ${\text{H}}_2\text{S}$ . How might this odor be removed from water already taken from the tap?

To determine

The removal process of the odor of hydrogen sulfide from well water.

Answer to Problem 19TE

The odorof hydrogen sulfide can be removed from the water by boiling it.

Explanation of Solution

The ability of solute due to which it dissolves in the solvent is known as the solubility. The water from the well contains some gases dissolved in it. The hydrogen sulfide gas is one of them.

As the temperature of the solution increases, the solubility of gases decreases. So, if the water from the well is heated, the temperature will increase and the hydrogen sulfide gas dissolved in it becomes less soluble.

As the hydrogen sulfide gas becomes less soluble, it will try to come out of the solution by forming bubbles. As the gas escapes from the solution, the odor will be gone too.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the odor of hydrogen sulfide can be removed from the water by boiling it.