Question

Define soft and hard water

Answer 1

• Hard water refers to water having high mineral content, as water percolates into deposits of calcareous, gypsum or chalk that are mostly composed of carbonates of magnesium or calcium, and bicarbonates and sulfate hard water is formed. Drinking hard water can benefit human health. The hardness of water is classified into two types mainly,

1. Temporary hardness of water- the hardness of water that is removed by boiling whereby the soluble bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium are converted into insoluble carbonates and are precipitated.
2. Permanent hardness of water- The hardness of water that cannot be removed by boiling which is usually caused by the presence of calcium sulfate which does not precipitate out.

• Soft water can be defined as surface water that contains relatively low ion concentrations and is low in Calcium and magnesium ions. Water created by the water softening process is termed soft water. Examples of soft water are rainwater and distilled water.