The first stage of treatment at a reverse osmosis plant is to flow the water through rock, sand, and gravel as shown here. Would this step remove particulate matter? Would this step remove dissolved salts?

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insert step 1> Understand the purpose of the first stage of treatment in a reverse osmosis plant, which involves flowing water through rock, sand, and gravel.

insert step 2> Recognize that this step is a form of physical filtration, which is designed to remove particulate matter from the water.

insert step 3> Consider the nature of particulate matter, which includes larger particles such as dirt, sand, and other debris that can be physically trapped by the rock, sand, and gravel.

insert step 4> Understand that dissolved salts are ions that are too small to be removed by physical filtration methods like passing through rock, sand, and gravel.

insert step 5> Conclude that while this step effectively removes particulate matter, it does not remove dissolved salts, which require further treatment such as reverse osmosis.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Filtration

Filtration is a physical separation process that removes solid particles from liquids or gases using a filter medium. In the context of reverse osmosis plants, the initial stage involves passing water through layers of rock, sand, and gravel, which act as filters to capture larger particulate matter, such as dirt and debris, effectively improving water clarity.

Dissolved Solids

Dissolved solids refer to substances that are completely dissolved in a liquid, resulting in a homogeneous solution. In water treatment, dissolved salts, such as sodium chloride, cannot be removed by simple filtration methods, as they pass through the filter medium. This necessitates additional treatment processes, like reverse osmosis, to effectively separate these dissolved ions from the water.

Reverse Osmosis

Reverse osmosis is a water purification technology that uses a semipermeable membrane to remove ions, molecules, and larger particles from drinking water. In this process, water is forced through the membrane under pressure, allowing only water molecules to pass while rejecting dissolved salts and other contaminants, making it essential for achieving high-quality water after initial filtration.

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