hard water produces less lather (difficult to produce)
calcium ions in limestone and magnesium in gypsum make water hard, as the water (H20) runs over the limestone or gypsum the calcium or magnesium dissolves in the water
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limescale and scum
scum:
hard water leaves scum in baths and sinks it is formed when the soap reacts with ions in the hard water
soap reacts with calium and magnesium ions
unsoluble salts (calcium stearateprecipitate) are formed with appear with scum
limscale:
when hard water is heated
common in kettles and washing macheines
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advantages and disadvantages
advantages
helps reduce heart illness
calcium in hard water is good for childrens bones
some brewers like using hard water for making beer
some people prefer the taste
disadvantages
difficult to form lather
dcum forms a reaction and wastes soap
limescale forms a hard rust on kettles and wastes energy when it is used
hot water pipes 'fur up' inside. the scale blocks up the pipes
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removing hardness
boilling removes hardness and makes it soft.
adding washing soda
ion exchange collum:
often used in dishwashers or plumbed into water systems to continuosly soften water. Resin beads have sodium ios attatched to them. as the hard water passes through the collum, the calcium and magnesium swap places with the sodium ions. The calcium and agnesium ions are left attatched to the resin beads while the water leaving the collum contains ore soium ions
and disadvantage is that the resin beads will have to be changed
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