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Meaning of hard water
When there is a high ratio of calcium and magnesium in water, then it is said to be as hard water. Hard water comes from the natural condition when the calcium and magnesium carbonate filter like chalk and limestone.
Water act 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.
Meaning 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.
Properties of hard water
It contains a high amount of calcium and magnesium
The mineral concentration is very high
It gives soap with insoluble curd instead of lather
It is tough to digest hard water
It contains a taste of characteristics
When the water flows from the chalk and limestone, hard water forms
It usually damages the machines and taps
There is a very bad effect of hard water on skin and hair
There are hard deposits of salt on the showerhead and other tools.
Different types of the hardness of water
There are two different types of the hardness of water that is usually seen in hard water, which are:
Permanent Hardness
Temporary Hardness
Temporary Hardness of water
When there is the presence of calcium carbonates and magnesium in water, then water is said to be temporarily hard. In the temporary hardness of water, hardness can easily be removed by boiling the water at a high temperature. After the process of removal of salt from the salt, water becomes soft and good to use.
Permanent hardness of water
When there is the presence of salt soluble calcium carbonate and magnesium in the form of chlorides and sulphates in water, it is said to be the permanent hardness of water and this type of hardness cannot be removed by only boiling the water.
This permanent hardness of water is removed by treating the water with washing soda. There is the formation of insoluble carbonates when washing soda reacts with sulphide and chloride salts of calcium and magnesium, and this is how hard water is converted to soft water.
Method for removal of permanent hardness of water
There are a few methods discussed below to remove the permanent hardness of water:
The process of washing soda
When chloride and sulphates of magnesium and calcium are present in hard water, the amount of washing soda is treated with hard water and participated as insoluble calcium and magnesium carbonates which later can be filtered off.
CaCl2+Na2CO3→CaCO3+2NaCl
MgSO4+Na2CO3→MgCO3+Na2SO4
Calgon’s Method
Sodium hexametaphosphate (N6P6O18), is commercially known as ‘Calgon’, when it is added to hard water, the reaction would be as below.
Na6P6O18→Na++Na4P6O182− (M = Mg, Ca)
M2++Na4P6O182−→[Na2MP6O18]2−+2Na+
The complex anion keeps the Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in solution.
There are other processes of removal of permanent hardness of water, but these two processes are commonly used by experts to remove the permanent hardness of the water.
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.
When the amount of magnesium and calcium is low in the water as 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. 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.
There are two types of the hardness of the water. When there is the presence of calcium carbonates and magnesium in water, then water is said to be temporarily hard. When there is the presence of salt soluble calcium carbonate and magnesium in the form of chlorides and sulphates in water, it is said to be the permanent hardness of water and this type of hardness cannot be removed by only boiling the water.
