Prepare for the American Water Works Water Treatment Plant Operator Test. Study with multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready to excel!

Multiple Choice

Which chemical is used as the reagent to measure residual chlorine in water samples?

The reagent used to measure residual chlorine is DPD, which stands for N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine. When chlorine is present, DPD is oxidized and turns a pink color; the intensity of that pink is proportional to the chlorine concentration, so you can compare to a color chart or read it with a photometer to determine residual chlorine levels. The other options are pH indicators and are used to show acidity or basicity, not to quantify chlorine residual, so they don’t provide a reliable measure of chlorine.

The reagent used to measure residual chlorine is DPD, which stands for N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine. When chlorine is present, DPD is oxidized and turns a pink color; the intensity of that pink is proportional to the chlorine concentration, so you can compare to a color chart or read it with a photometer to determine residual chlorine levels. The other options are pH indicators and are used to show acidity or basicity, not to quantify chlorine residual, so they don’t provide a reliable measure of chlorine.