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What type of water hardness can be removed by boiling? - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question i) - 2019
Question i)
What type of water hardness can be removed by boiling?
Worked Solution & Example Answer:What type of water hardness can be removed by boiling? - Leaving Cert Chemistry - Question i) - 2019
Step 1
What type of water hardness can be removed by boiling?
Answer
The type of water hardness that can be removed by boiling is known as temporary hardness. This refers primarily to the presence of hydrogencarbonate ions in the water.
Explanation
When water containing temporary hardness is boiled, the heat causes the hydrogencarbonate ions to decompose into carbonate ions, which can precipitate as calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) or magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃). This process effectively removes the hardness from the water as the sediment forms and can be filtered out.
Conclusion
Thus, boiling water is an effective method to eliminate temporary hardness caused by hydrogencarbonate compounds.