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Which one of the following salts is responsible for temporary hardness of water ?
Explanation
Water hardness is classified into temporary and permanent types based on the dissolved mineral salts. Temporary hardness, also known as carbonate hardness, is primarily caused by the presence of dissolved bicarbonates (hydrogen carbonates) of calcium and magnesium [1]. These salts are considered 'temporary' because they can be removed by simply boiling the water. Heating causes the soluble bicarbonates to decompose into insoluble carbonates, carbon dioxide, and water, which then precipitate as scale. Specifically, magnesium bicarbonate (Mg(HCO3)2) and calcium bicarbonate are the key agents responsible for this phenomenon. In contrast, permanent hardness is caused by the sulphates and chlorides of calcium and magnesium, such as calcium sulphate or magnesium chloride, which cannot be removed by boiling and require chemical treatment or ion exchange for removal.
Sources
- [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/carbonate-hardness