CY8151 ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY

UNIT-I WATERTECHNOLOGY

1. 2 . Hardness of water – types – expression of hardness – units

1.2. Hard Water
Water which does not produce lather with soap solution but forms a white precipitate is
called hard water. This is due to the presence of dissolved salts of magnesium and calcium.
2C17H35COONa + CaCl2 −−−> (C17H35COO)2 Ca + 2NaCl
Soap Hardness causing Card Soap
substance
Such water requires a lot of soap for washing. (Water with a hardness of 7.1 mg equivalents will
require the use of an additional 2.4 g /liter of soap.). Our hard water in the Southern Indian area
is due to rain moving through the vast amount of limestone, CaCO 3 that occurs in our area to the
aquifer. Hence, we measure hardness in terms of CaCO3.Hardness is expressed as parts per
million weight (ppm)/milligrams per liter (mg/L)CaCO3 or gallon (gpg).
Soft Water
Water which lathers easily with soap solution is called soft water. This is due to the
absence of dissolved salts of magnesium and calcium.

1.2.1. Detection of hardness of water

The hardness of water can be detected by –
i) Treating water with soap, say sodium palmitate with hard water gives a white precipitate.
2C17H35COONa + CaCl2 −−−> (C17H35COO)2 Ca + 2NaCl
Soap hard water white ppt
ii) Hard water imparts wine red colour with Eriochrome black- T (EBT) indicator.
1.2.2. Types of Hardness
Depending upon the types of dissolved salts present in water, hardness of water can be classified
into the following two types.
i) Temporary hardness
ii) Permanent hardness

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1) Temporary hardness
This is due to the presence of bicarbonates of calcium and magnesium. It can be removed by
a) Boiling the water
b) Adding lime to the water.
a) Boiling
Ca (HCO3)2 −−−> CaCO3↓ + H2O + CO2

b) Adding lime soda

Mg (HCO3)2 + 2Ca (OH)2 −−−> Mg(OH)2↓ + 2CaCO3↓ + 2H2O
(lime)

2) Permanent hardness
This is due to the presence of chlorides and sulphates of calcium and magnesium. It
cannot be removed by boiling the water. But, it can be removed by
(i) Lime-soda process
(ii) Zeolite process

a) Lime soda (Na2CO3) process

CaCl2 + Na2CO3 −−−>2NaCl
b) Zeolite (Na2Ze) process
CaSO4 + Na2Ze −−−> CaZe + Na2SO4

1.2.3. Expression of hardness of water

The concentration of hardness producing salts are usually expressed interms of an
equivalent amount of CaCO3.
The coice of CaCO3 as a standard is due to the following reasons-
 Its molecular weight (100) and equivalent weight(50) is a whole number, so the
calculations in wateranalysis can be simplified.
 CaCO3is the most insoluble salt,that can be precipitated in water treatment.
If the concentration of hardness producing salt is x mgs/lit, then amount equivalent to CaCO3

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1.2.4. Units of hardness
The units used to represent hardness are as follows-
1. Parts per million (ppm)
It is defined as the number of parts of CaCO3 equivalent hardness per 10 parts
of water.
2. Milligrams per liter (mg/lit)
It is defined as the number of milligrams of CaCO3 equivalent hardness per 1 liter of
water.

3. Clarke's degree (°C1)

It is defined as the number of parts of CaCO3 equivalent hardness per 70,000 parts of
water.

4. French degree (°Fr)

It is defined as the number of parts of CaCO3 equivalent hardness per 10 parts of water.

Relationship between various units

1 ppm = 1 mg/lit = 0.1° Fr = 0.07° Cl

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