Hard water contains
dissolved compounds such
as calcium and magnesium
salts.
The calcium and/or
magnesium ions in
hard water react with
soap producing a
precipitate called
scum
hard water can
produce a solid
scale when it is
heated, reducing
the efficiency of
heating systems
and kettles.
Hard water is better
then soft water for
developing and
maintaining bones
and teeth. It may also
help prevent heart
disease.
C3 2.3
Water for
drinking should
contain only low
levels of
dissolved
substances and
microbes.
Water is
made fit
to drink
by filtering
it to
remove
and
adding
chlorine
to reduce
the
number of
microbes
We can make
pure water by
distillation but
this requires
large amounts of
energy which
makes it
expensive.
C3
2.4
Chlorine is
added to
water to
sterilise it by
killing
microbes.
Fluoride
helps to
improve
dental
health
Some argue against
the fluoridation of
public water supplies.
for example, they
think that people
should have the right
to choose if they want
to take extra fluoride
or not.
C3
2.2
Soft water
does not
contain ions
that produce
scum or scale.
Hard water
can be
softened by
removing the
ions that
produce scum
and scale.
temporary
hardness is
removed
from water
by heating it.
permanent
hardness is
not changed
by heating.
They hydrogencarbonate ions in
temporary hard water decompose
on heating. the carbonate ions
formed react wit Ca2+ (aq) and
Mg2+ (aq) ions, making
precipitates
Either type of hard water
can be softened by
adding washing soda or
by using an
ion-exchange resin to
remove to remove
calcium and magnesium
ions.