A sample of water collected from random source of water does not give lather with soap. Study it and answer the following questions:
(a) What type of water is it?
(b) Name two chemicals which causes this effect in water.
(c) How can you make this water to produce lather with soap? Write any one point.
(a) What type of water is it?
(b) Name two chemicals which causes this effect in water.
(c) How can you make this water to produce lather with soap? Write any one point.
Answers & Comments
Answer:
(a) The water sample that does not produce lather with soap is likely hard water.
(b) Two chemicals that can cause this effect in water are calcium and magnesium ions.
(c) To make this water produce lather with soap, you can use a water softener, such as sodium carbonate (soda ash), which can help remove or reduce the calcium and magnesium ions in the water, making it softer and more suitable for lathering with soap.
Answer:
(a) The water that does not produce lather with soap is likely "hard water."
(b) Two chemicals that commonly cause the effect of hard water are calcium ions (Ca²⁺) and magnesium ions (Mg²⁺). These ions react with soap molecules, forming insoluble compounds (calcium and magnesium salts of fatty acids) that do not dissolve well in water and result in reduced lathering.
(c) To make hard water produce lather with soap, you can use a water softening method. One common method is to use a water softener, which typically contains ion-exchange resin beads. These beads exchange the calcium and magnesium ions in the water with sodium ions, making the water "soft" by removing the hardness ions. As a result, the water becomes more suitable for producing lather with soap. Regularly regenerating or replacing the resin beads in the water softener is essential to maintain its effectiveness.