Adding more ions to water does *not* soften the water. Passing the hard water across an ion exchange resin, where calcium (hardness) is exchanged for sodium... softens it.
Hard water causes different problems around the home. See below...
Bathroom
Showerheads and spray-nozzles can become blocked; they can even clog the small holes completely and reduce their efficiency. The bathtub and sink seem to be the places where there is a visible soap scum build up. Without proper treatment his build up is very difficult to remove and may require a lot of cleaners and many applications. Scale can clog pipes and can decrease the life of toilet flushing units.
Bathing
Bathing with soap in hard water leaves a film of sticky soap curd on the skin. The film may prevent removal of soil and bacteria. Soap curd interferes with the return of skin to its normal, slightly acid condition, and may lead to irritation. Soap curd on hair may make it dull, lifeless and difficult to manage. Similarly, the insoluble salts that get left behind from using regular shampoo in hard water tend to leave hair rougher and harder to detangle.
Laundering
Clothes washed in hard water often look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. The hardness minerals combine with some soils to form insoluble salts, making them difficult to remove. Soil on clothes can introduce even more hardness minerals into the wash water. Continuous laundering in hard water can damage fibers and shorten the life of clothes by up to 40 percent.
Dishwashers
When washing dishes, especially in a dishwasher, hard water may cause spotting and filming on your crockery. The minerals from hard water are released faster when it comes into contact with heat, causing an increase in the amount of spotting and filming that occurs. This problem is not a health risk, but it can be a nuisance to clean and reduce the quality of your crockery.
Problems in Water Boiler Systems and Pipework
Hard water also contributes to inefficient and costly operation of water-using appliances. Heated hard water forms a scale of calcium and magnesium minerals (limescale deposits) that can contribute to the inefficient operation or failure of water-using appliances. Pipes can become clogged with scale that reduces water flow and ultimately requires pipe replacement. Limescale has been known to increase energy bills by up to 25%.
Conventional water-softening depends on an ion-exchange resin in which "hardness" ions trade places with the sodium ions that are electrostatically bound to the anionic functional groups of the polymeric resin - and softens it.
Sodium carbonate has a good effect on foaming action of soap. The tap water with which soap is agitated to form soap contains ca and magnesium salts dissolved in it.Sodium Carbonate will make it precipitate.As a result Sodium Carbonate will increase the rate of dissapearance of foam. GOKUL MURALI
The effect of sodium carbonate on soap can differ depending on the type of water used. Hard water could cause the soap to bubble more, while fresh water could cause the soap to not bubble at all.
Sodium carbonate is used for neutralization in detergent synthesis because it is basic enough to deprotonate the precurser to the synthetic detergent but if excess is added will not result in a soap with a very high pH as NaOH would. Sodium carbonate is used for neutralization in detergent synthesis because it is basic enough to deprotonate the precurser to the synthetic detergent but if excess is added will not result in a soap with a very high pH as NaOH would.
Lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide, commonly used in water treatment to raise the pH level and aid in the removal of impurities. Soda ash, or sodium carbonate, is used in water treatment to soften water by removing calcium and magnesium ions. Both lime and soda ash are important chemicals in water treatment processes.
Sodium has nonfood uses in industries such as textile production, where it is used in dyeing processes; in soap making, where it helps create lather; and in water treatment to soften hard water. Additionally, sodium is used in the manufacture of certain medications and as a cooling agent in nuclear reactors.
Sodium carbonate, Potassium carbonate, etc.
Sodium carbonate has a good effect on foaming action of soap. The tap water with which soap is agitated to form soap contains ca and magnesium salts dissolved in it.Sodium Carbonate will make it precipitate.As a result Sodium Carbonate will increase the rate of dissapearance of foam. GOKUL MURALI
The effect of sodium carbonate on soap can differ depending on the type of water used. Hard water could cause the soap to bubble more, while fresh water could cause the soap to not bubble at all.
Sodium carbonate is called washing soda because it has long been used as a laundry detergent due to its ability to soften water and remove dirt and grease from fabrics effectively. The term "washing soda" typically refers to sodium carbonate decahydrate, which is the hydrated form of sodium carbonate commonly used for household cleaning purposes.
Sodium carbonate (soda ash) is commonly used in dishwasher tablets as an alkali to help soften water and remove grease and grime from dishes.
When Na2CO3 (sodium carbonate) is added to water, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and carbonate ions (CO3^2-). The carbonate ions can react with water to form bicarbonate ions (HCO3-) and hydroxide ions (OH-), increasing the pH of the solution. Sodium carbonate is commonly used as a pH buffer and to soften water due to its ability to remove magnesium and calcium ions.
Washing soda is sodium carbonate. Borax is sodium borate. Washing soda is intended to soften water for various washing jobs. Borax too will soften water but has more uses including getting rid of pests such as fleas and ants.
Sodium carbonate is added to hard water to help soften it by reacting with the calcium and magnesium ions that cause water hardness. This makes the water more effective at dissolving dirt and soap scum, thus improving its cleaning ability. Additionally, sodium carbonate can help to prevent the formation of limescale deposits on surfaces.
Sodium carbonate is used for neutralization in detergent synthesis because it is basic enough to deprotonate the precurser to the synthetic detergent but if excess is added will not result in a soap with a very high pH as NaOH would. Sodium carbonate is used for neutralization in detergent synthesis because it is basic enough to deprotonate the precurser to the synthetic detergent but if excess is added will not result in a soap with a very high pH as NaOH would.
Sodium carbonate is the sodium salt of carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is also called carbon dioxide which is the bubbles is soda pop. Sodium Bicarbonate is the double sodium salt of carbonic acid. Another name for Sodium Bicarbonate is baking soda which releases carbon dioxide when heated to make bread rise. Boiling Sodium Bicarbonate in water to dryness leaves behind a white residue of Sodium carbonate. Sodium percarbonate is combination of two Sodium carbonates with 3 hydrogen peroxide to make a dry powder sometimes used in whitening powders.
Sodium carbonate is added to 'soften' hard water (reacts with calcium and magnesium ions), however this water is NOT drinkable (potable).
Lime is calcium oxide or calcium hydroxide, commonly used in water treatment to raise the pH level and aid in the removal of impurities. Soda ash, or sodium carbonate, is used in water treatment to soften water by removing calcium and magnesium ions. Both lime and soda ash are important chemicals in water treatment processes.