HARDNESS OF WATER NOTES
Hardness of water:
The water which does not produce lather with soap is called hard water. Thus,
Hardness in water is the characteristic, which “prevents the lathering of soap”. On the
Other hand, the water which produce lather easily on shaking with soap solution, is
Called soft water.
The hardness of water is caused by the presence of dissolved salts such as bicarbonates,
sulphates, chlorides and nitrates of divalent metal ions like calcium and magnesium.
Soap is sodium or potassium salt of higher fatty acids like stearic, oleic and palmetic
acids. When soap is mixed with soft water lather is produced due to stearic acid and
sodium stearate.
Types of Hardness:
The hardness of water is two types;
1. Temporary hardness.
2. Permanent hardness.
1. Temporary hardness or Carbonate hardness:
This hardness is caused by two dissolved bicarbonate salts Ca (HCO3)2 and Mg
(HCO3)2. The hardness is called temporary because, it can be removed easily by boiling.
During boiling, bicarbonates are decomposed to yield insoluble carbonates or
hydroxides, which are deposited as a crust at the bottom of vessel.
Remove of Temporary Hardness of Water
A)By Boiling:
Soluble bicarbonates are converted into insoluble carbonates which are removed
by filtration.
B)By Clarks Method: (Lime-Soda Method)
Calcium hydroxide is Clark’s reagent. It removes the hardness of water by
converting bicarbonates into carbonate.
1) Lime-Soda Method:
The Lime-Soda method is a traditional and widely used technique for softening
water, especially in areas where the water is hard due to the presence of calcium
and magnesium ions. Here's how the Lime-Soda method works:
a. Lime Treatment:
Calcium Hydroxide (Lime): Lime (calcium hydroxide) is added to water. The lime
reacts with the calcium and magnesium ions present in the water, forming
insoluble precipitates of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and magnesium hydroxide
(Mg(OH)2). These precipitates settle down, and they can be removed through
sedimentation or filtration.
2. Permanent hardness or non-carbonate hardness:
This hardness is due to the dissolved chlorides, sulphates and nitrates of calcium
and magnesium. These salts are CaCl2, MgCl2, CaSO4, MgSO4, Ca(NO3)2,
Mg(NO3)2. It cannot be removed easily by boiling. Hence, it is called permanent
hardness. Only chemical treatment can remove this hardness.
REMOVE PERMANENT HARDNESS OF WATER?
a) Gan’s Permutit Method:
In this method, sodium aluminum ortho silicate known as permutit or zeolite is
used to remove the permanent hardness of water.
b) Calgon’s Process:
In this method, sodium-hexa-meta-phosphate (NaPO3)6 known as Calgon is used.
The hardness in water is removed by the adsorption of Ca+ and Mg+ions.
c) Ion Exchange Resin Method: (Base Exchange Method )
The ion exchange method is another approach to soften water, particularly when
the hardness is primarily due to calcium and magnesium ions. In this method, a
resin containing sodium ions is used to exchange with the calcium and magnesium
ions in the water.
Here's how it works:
Ion Exchange Resin: The resin beads are typically made of polystyrene and have
sodium ions attached to them. As water passes through the resin bed, the calcium
and magnesium ions in the water are exchanged for sodium ions on the resin.
In this method, the permanent hardness of water is removed by using resins.
R represents the resin bead.
The sodium ions released into the water during this exchange process do not
contribute to water hardness. The resin can be regenerated by passing a brine (high
concentration of sodium chloride) solution through it, replacing the calcium and
magnesium ions with sodium ions again.
Both methods aim to reduce the concentration of calcium and magnesium ions in
water, which are the primary contributors to water hardness. The choice between
these methods depends on factors such as the initial hardness of the water, cost
considerations, and the specific requirements of the water treatment process.
Ca+/Mg+ ions are exchanged with Cl– , SO4 -2 ions are exchanged with anion
exchange resin (RNH2OH).
Demineralized water is formed in this process.
DISADVANTAGES OF HARD WATER:
1. In domestic use.
2. In industrial use.
3. In steam generation.
1. In domestic use:
1. Washing:
Hard water, when used for washing purpose, does not lather freely with
soap. On the other hand, it produces sticky precipitates of calcium and
magnesium. This causes a wastage of lot of soap being used. Also,
presence of iron salts may cause stains on cloth.
(b) Bathing:
Hard water, does not lather freely with soap, but produces sticky scum on the
bath-tub and body. Thus, the cleaning quality of soap depressed and a lot of it
wasted.
(c) Cooking:
Due to the presence of dissolved hardness causing salts, the boiling point
of water is elevated. Consequently, more fuel and time are required for
cooking. Certain foods do not cook soft in hard water. Also, tea or coffee,
prepared in hard water has an unpleasant taste and muddy-looking extract.
(d) Drinking:
Hard water causes bad effect on our digestive system. Moreover, the possibility
of forming calcium oxalate crystals in urinary tracks is increased.
2. IN INDUSTRIAL USE:
(a) Textile industry: Hard water causes much of the soap to go as waste.
Moreover, precipitates of calcium and magnesium soaps adhere to the
fabrics. These fabrics, when died later on, do not produce exact shades of
colour. Iron and manganese salts- containing water may cause coloured spots
on fabrics, thereby spoiling their beauty.
(b) Sugar industry: Water containing sulphates, nitrates, alkali
carbonates, etc., if used in sugar refining, it causes difficulties in the
crystallization of sugar. Moreover, the sugar so-produced may be
deliquescent.
(c) Concrete making: Water containing chlorides and sulphates, if used
for concrete making, affects the hydration of cement and the final strength of
the hardened concrete.
(d) Pharmaceutical industry: Hard water, if used for preparing
pharmaceutical product like drugs, injections and ointments etc. May
produce certain undesirable products in them.
3. In steam generation:
For steam generation, boilers are almost invariably employed. If the hard water is
directly to the boilers, there arise many troubles such as:
(i) Scale and sludge formation (ii) corrosion (iii) priming and foaming (iv) caustic
embrittlement.
