Question

Explain softening of water process

Answer 1

Softening of water i.e removing the hardness of water is done by removing calcium and magnesium ions, whose bicarbonates, sulphates are responsible for hardness of water.

During this process, water first passes through the cation exchange process. The water obtained after this process is free from mineral cations and is acidic in nature.

This acidic water is then passed through the anion exchange process where OH^– ions neutralize the H⁺ ions and de-ionize the water obtained.