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Advantages and Disadvantages of Hard Water.
The advantages of hard water are
1) It tastes better and is thought to reduce the number of heart illnesses.
2) It provides useful calcium ions
for the healthy growth
of bones
and teeth.
3) The formation of lime scale in pipes
(see below)
causes the inside of the pipe to be covered
with insoluble carbonates.
This layer of carbonate prevents
the water in the pipe
from coming into contact with the
metal of the pipe
and so prevents pipe corrosion
and poisonous metal salts becoming dissolved in the water.
The disadvantages of
hard water are
1) Lime
scale furring of kettles and pipes.
The fur is the insoluble carbonate
formed
during heating water with temporary hardness.
The deposits of lime scale can build
up on the inside of the pipe
restricting the flow of water or
causing a blockage.
This can happen in industry where
hot water
is used
or in domestic heating systems (like
the hot water in your house).
Lime scale deposits can be
removed using a weak acid.
Lime
scale in pipes can be
prevented using a water softener
or a
scale inhibitor.
Lime scale in pipes can also be an advantage (see above).
2) Soap is wasted
because more soap is required for
washing.
Soap in hard
water forms a "scum" from
reacting with
the calcium or magnesium compounds
in the water.
Other detergents which do not contain soap
do not form wasteful scum during
washing.
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