Effects of Solute Concentrations on Thermodynamic Properties of Lake Victoria Waters

Abstract

Water helps support life processes and habitats of virtually all organisms. The rivers that flow into Lake Victoria harbor huge amount of  solutes which affect its characteristic features and ecological equilibrium. This has affected the distribution of aquatic organisms and led  to eutrophication and algal blooms and other invasive species such as water hyacinths. The present study focused on colligative  properties (boiling point elevation, freezing point depression and vapor pressure deficit) of waters of Lake Victoria as key parameters in  assessment of water quality. Water samples were obtained from five different sites along coastline of the Winam gulf and investigated of  their solute properties. As control experiment, the effects of direct addition of selected cations sodium, potassium, calcium, zinc and lead  on the samples from the five different sampling sites were also investigated. The samples were refrigerated and later heated for the purpose of determining the effect of salts on freezing point depression and boiling point elevation respectively. Temperature logging  carried out using a digital thermometer throughout the experiments. The result obtained and subjected to Analysis of Variance revealed  that cation concentrations had insignificant effect on vapor pressure deficit and other colligative properties of the waters. Maximum  error barely exceeded 2% for the studied parameters was carried out to determine any significant differences. The results also indicated  that cation concentrations were significantly different and direct addition of similar molar solute concentrations could significantly and  differentially affect solute properties of the waters. These finding can support the production of policy formulation on management of  waters of the lake.