Water: Hard Water and Soft Water | Class 8 Science

- Hard water contains high amounts of calcium and magnesium salts.
- Soft water contains little or no salts of magnesium and calcium.
- Hard water does not lather easily with soap as it forms scum. Scum is a layer of dirt on the surface of a liquid.]
- Soft water lathers easily with soap forming foam.

Fun Facts about Water

- Water covers about 71% of the earth's surface.
- Also, an adult human body contains about 60% water and about 75% in infants.

Disadvantages of Hard Water

- It wastes soap as a lot is used when washing.
- The scum produced stains clothes and plastics
- It reacts with water pipes forming fur that may block water pipes
- In hot water pipes, kettles and showers, hard water forms scale leading to the blockage of pipes

Softening Hard Water

To soften hard water:

1. Temporarily - Boil the water
2. Permanently - Use chemicals such as magadi soda