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TOTAL HARDNESS
AIM :-To determine the total hardness of collected water sample
INTRODUCTION
Water that has high mineral content is known as Hard water. Hard water contains
bicarbonate, chlorides and sulphates of calcium and magnesium.
When treated hard water with soap, it gets precipitated in the form of insoluble salts of
calcium and magnesium. Hardness of water is a measure of the total concentration of the
calcium and magnesium ions expressed as calcium carbonate. There are two types of
hardness
1. Temporary hardness
2. Permanent hardness
Temporary Hardness is due to the presence of bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium.
It can be easily removed by boiling.
Permanent Hardness is due to the presence of chlorides and sulphates of calcium and
magnesium. This type of hardness cannot be removed by boiling.
Sources of hardness
Water's hardness is determined by the concentration of multivalent cations in the water. Multivalent
cations are positively charged metal complexes with a charge greater than 1+. Usually, the cations
have the charge of 2+. Common cations found in hard water include Ca 2+ and Mg2+. These ions enter a
water supply by leaching from minerals within an aquifer. Common calcium-containing minerals
are calcite and gypsum. A common magnesium mineral is dolomite (which also contains
calcium). Rainwater and distilled water are soft, because they contain few ions.
The following equilibrium reaction describes the dissolving and formation of calcium carbonate :
CaCO3 (s) + CO2 (aq) + H2O (l) Ca2+ (aq) + 2HCO3 (aq)
The reaction can go in either direction. Rain containing dissolved carbon dioxide can react with
calcium carbonate and carry calcium ions away with it. The calcium carbonate may be re-deposited as
calcite as the carbon dioxide is lost to atmosphere, sometimes forming stalactites and stalagmites.
Calcium and magnesium ions can sometimes be removed by water softeners.
Environmental Significance
MATERIALS REQUIRED
APPARATUS REQUIRED
1. Burette with Burette stand and porcelain title
2. Pipettes with elongated tips
3. Pipette bulb
4. Conical flask (Erlenmeyer Flask)
5. 250 mL graduated cylinders
6. Standard flask
7. Wash Bottle
8. Beaker
CHEMICALS REQUIRED
1. Ammonium Chloride
2. Ammonium Hydroxide
3. EDTA (Disodium Salt of EDTA)
4. Erichrome Black T
5. Magnesium sulphate
OBSERVATION TABLE
CONCLUSION
INFERENCE
Hardness is the property which makes water to form an insoluble precipitate with soap
and is primarily due to the presence of calcium and magnesium ions. Hard waters have no
known adverse health effects and may be more palatable than soft waters. Hard water is
primarily of concern because it requires more soap for effective cleaning, causes
yellowing of fabrics, toughens vegetables cooked in the water and forms scales in
boilers, water heaters, pipes and cooking utensils.
The hardness of good quality water should not exceed 250 mg/L measured as calcium
carbonate equivalents. Waters softer than 30 to 50 mg/L may be corrosive to piping
depending on pH, alkalinity and dissolved oxygen.