Which of the following are physical parameters to decide the water quality?

A) pH

B) Temperature

C) Total Solids (TSS)

D) Hardness

E) Conductivity

Choose the correct answer from the options given below:

The correct answer is B, C, E only.

To determine the quality of water, various parameters are analyzed and classified into physical, chemical, and biological categories. Let us understand the nature of each parameter listed in the question:
1. Temperature (B): This is a physical parameter. It is a physical property of water that affects chemical reactions, biological activity, and the solubility of gases like oxygen.
2. Total Solids (TSS) (C): Total Suspended Solids (TSS) represents the particles that are suspended in water. This is a physical parameter because it relates to physical particulate matter that can be filtered out and measured physically.
3. Conductivity (E): Electrical conductivity is the measure of water's ability to conduct an electric current. Since it is a physical measurement of how electricity flows through the water, it is classified as a physical parameter (though it is caused by dissolved inorganic ions).
4. pH (A): pH measures the hydrogen ion concentration (acidity or alkalinity) of water. This is a chemical parameter, not a physical one.
5. Hardness (D): Hardness is a measure of the concentration of multivalent metallic cations, primarily calcium and magnesium ions, in water. Since it depends on the chemical concentration of specific dissolved minerals, it is classified as a chemical parameter.

Therefore, among the given options, only Temperature (B), Total Solids (TSS) (C), and Conductivity (E) are physical parameters used to decide water quality.