The removal of the dissolved calcium and magnesium salts that contribute to water hardness is known as water softening. In contrast to hard water, softened water will not precipitate or create insoluble scales in tanks or pipes or obstruct the effectiveness of cleaners like soap.
For the above problem, water softening is essential to many sectors, and many countries utilize tiny water-softening units in their residences too. Water softening is the process of removing the dissolved calcium and magnesium salts that cause water to be hard.
Softened water, as opposed to hard water, won't precipitate, build up insoluble scales in tanks or pipes, or interfere with the efficiency of household cleaners like soap or similar items and make problems. As a result, many industries are dependable on water softening process, and many nations use small water-softening systems in homes too.
A typical industrial technique for softening water is ion exchange.
On a large scale, many plants use lime to chemically soften the water.
Ion exchange or the addition of compounds that produce insoluble precipitates are two methods for softening water. Ammonia, borax, calcium hydroxide, or trisodium phosphate are some of the chemicals that are utilised for softening on a modest scale. Sedimentation and filtering must come after the lime-soda method of water softening.
By adding just enough lime to cause the calcium to precipitate as carbonate and the magnesium to precipitate as hydroxide, water can be chemically softened on a huge scale. A typical industrial technique for softening water is ion exchange. It is done by running columns of natural or artificial resin through water.