Hard and Soft water

Definition of hard water

When there is a high ratio of calcium and magnesium in water, it is said to be hard water. Hard water comes from the natural condition when the calcium and magnesium carbonate filter like chalk and limestone.

Water acts as a “universal solvent” because no other liquid can dissolve any substance as water does. Water is the most critical part of surviving in every human’s life. Life is incomplete without water, as animals and plants cannot survive without it.

Definition of soft water

When the amount of magnesium and calcium is low in the water compared to the ratio in hard water, it is known as soft water. The word soft water is derived from the process of softening water. Sometimes there is a high amount of bicarbonate and sodium in this. Soft water occurs naturally from rocks with poor calcium levels and is usually impermeable. They form a drainage basin of water.

Difference between hard and soft water

Properties of water

• As water is a universal solvent, it is used multiple times in our day-to-day life like bathing, cooking, drinking, surviving, etc.

• A major part of the earth is covered with water, which makes it different from other molecules.

• Hydrogen bonding of water is a unique property.

  • It has a high dielectric constant and is known as hydrolysis.

  • It is amphoteric in nature because it can act as both acid and base.

  • Due to the intermolecular force of attraction, water has high viscosity.

Water as universal solvent

Water acts as a “universal solvent” because no other liquid can dissolve any substance as water does. Water is the most important part of surviving in every human’s life. Life is incomplete without water, as animals and plants cannot survive without water. When water mixes with air, the ground, or from our bodies, it usually takes along all kinds of valuable minerals, nutrients, and chemicals.

Water acts as an excellent universal solvent due to its chemical compositions and physical attributes. The polar arrangement of oxygen and hydrogen in water molecules like one side oxygen has a negative charge and one side hydrogen has a positive electrical charge. This is the main reason why other molecules are attracted to water molecules.

Conclusion

When there is a high ratio of calcium and magnesium in water, then it is said to be hard water. Hard water comes from the natural condition when the filter through calcium and magnesium carbonate like chalk and limestone.

Water acts as a “universal solvent” because no other liquid can dissolve any substance as water does. Water is the most important part of surviving in every human’s life. Life is incomplete without water, as animals and plants cannot survive without water. When there is a high ratio of calcium and magnesium in water, then it is said to be hard water.

Hard water comes from the natural condition when the filter through calcium and magnesium carbonate like chalk and limestone. It is safe to use soft water for daily purposes in life, but not hard water, as it has an adverse effect on skin and hair.