Water* Flashcards
What is hard water?
Water that will not EASILY form a lather with soap due to the presence of Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ ions in solution. (2+ is small like a power)
Why does hard water not easily form a lather?
Due to the presence of Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ ions in solution.
2+ is small like a power
What is temporary hardness?
Water hardness that can be removed by boiling the water.
What is temporary hardness caused by?
Ca(HCO3)2 (numbers small)
What does Ca(HCO3)2 become after heating?
CaCO3 (limescale) (numbers small)
What does CaCO3 lead to?
Blocked pipes etc.
What is permanent hardness?
Permanent hardness is not removed by boiling the water
What is permanent hardness caused by?
CaSO4 or MgSO4 (numbers small)
What are some methods of removing hardness?
Boiling (only works for temp. hardness)
Distillation
Washing Soda
Ion Exchange
What is distillation?
Distillation is a process that can be used to separate a pure liquid from a mixture of liquids. It works when the liquids have different boiling points.
What is ion exchange?
In an ion exchange system, undesirable ions in the water supply are replaced with more acceptable ions.
Which type of water is purer, distilled or deionised?
deionised
What are the steps in water treatment?
Screening, flocculation, sedimentation, filtration, chlorination, fluoridation, pH adjustment.
What does B.O.D stand for?
Biochemical Oxygen Demand
What is biochemical oxygen demand?
The amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by biological action when a sample of water is... kept at 20 degrees celsius in the dark for five days (know reason for each of 3 conditions)
When finding out the biochemical oxygen demand why is the sample kept in the dark?
.To prevent photosynthesis taking place which creates oxygen
When calcium and magnesium ions mix with soap, what do they form?
a scum
Do modern detergents contain soap? What does this mean?
No so it will form a lather even with hard water
What will form a lather even with hard water?
Modern detergents which do not contain soap
What to types of hard water can in be?
Water with temporary hardness and permanent hardness
What is temporary hard water?
Hardness that can be removed by boiling the water
What is permanent hard water?
Hardness that cannot be removed by boiling the water
What are the advantages of hard water?
Provides calcium for teeth and bones
Nicer taste
Good for brewing, and for tanning
What are the disadvantages of hard water?
Blocks pipes, leaves scale on kettles
Wastes soap
Produces scum
What are three methods of removing water hardness?
Distillation, using ion exchange resin or using washing soda
How do you remove water hardness by distillation?
Evaporating of the water leaves the dissolved salts behind. The condensed water will no longer contain the salts and be “soft”.
How do you remove water hardness be using washing soda? (include formula)
Hydrated sodium carbonate Na2Co3.10H2O (washing soda) removes hardness from water and allows it to lather more easily with soap.
Ca2+ + Na2CO3 -> CaCO3 (soluble in water) + 2Na+
How do you remove water hardness by using ion exchange resin?
Pass water through ion exchange resin.
Cation exchange swaps ions that cause hardness (Ca2+ and Mg 2+) for ions that do not
Ca2+ + 2RNa -> R2Ca + 2Na+
(R in RNa represents the resin)
Draw the use of a cation exchange resin fig. 19.5 302
go
Draw the use of a mixed-bed ion-exchange resin fig 19.7 pg 302
go
What are the two types of ion exchange resin?
Mixed-bed ion exchange resin and ion exchange resin
What do mixed-bed ion-exchange resins do? (with formula)
Mixed-bed ion-exchange resin removes ALL ions from water (water is deionised and cannot be hard) Cation exchange (to remove + ions) and RH + Na+ -> RNa + H+ Anion exchange (to remove - ions) ROH +Cl- -> RCl + OH-
Where is mixed-bed ion exchange resin typically used?
labs
What is distilled water?
Water which has had all the dissolved solids removed as well as the gases and is much purer than deionised water (only has ions removed)
Which is purer, distilled water or deionised water?
distilled water
What needs to be done to maintain ion exchange resin?
replace it after a certain amount of time
draw figure 19.3 mixed bed ion exchange resin
now
how much water does an average household use in a day
300 litres
what are the criteria expected of the water that reaches your house?
colourless
odourless
safe to drink (no active bacteria)
flourinated
when is water safe to drink? (brief explanation)
when there is no active bacteria present
how must we ensure that water is of an adequate standard for drinking?
It must be treated
What are the 7 stages of water purification?
Screening, Flocculation, Settlement, Filtration, Chlorination, Flouridation, pH adjustment
What does screening involve?
The water is passed through a wire mesh which removes large solids and floating debris like twigs, plastics etc.
What does flocculation involve?
Flocculating agent (or flocculant) usually aluminium sulphate (alum) is added. This makes smaller suspended solids coagulated or stick together in large clumps, so they are easier to remove in the next stage.
What does settlement involve?
Large tanks where water goes to the bottom and rises slowly to the top, at < 2m/hr particles settle to the bottom. Over 90% of suspended solids are removed at this stage.
What does filtration involve?
Large beds of sand which remove remaining susp solids. Sand supported on a layer of gravel and sand is cleaned regularly. Water is now clear, but may contain harmful bacteria.
What does chlorination involve?
Cl2 gas is added which sterilises the water. Very small quantities 0.2 - 0.5 ppm is added. It is controlled carefully and monitored by a bacteriological exam of the water.
What does flouridation involve?
NaF or H2SiF6 added. (Hexafluorosilicic acid). Added by law as helps to reduce dental decay by strengthening the enamel. Small quantities - 1 ppm, are used.
What does pH adjustment involve?
Optimum level is between 7 - 9. Too acidic may cause damage to pipes. May be corrected by addition of Ca(OH)2 (calcium hydroxide) (lime) to raise the pH. If very hard water, might be softened by addition of NaCO3 (sodium carbonate) which is a base. Too basic may be corrected by addition of dilute H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) to lower the pH.
Where does water come from and where does it end up?
Lakes and rivers to homes and industry where it is ready for consumption and use.
What is the optimum level for water pH?
Between 7 - 9
If water is too acidic, what might happen?
It may cause damage to the pipes.
How do you correct water which is too acidic?
by adding Ca(OH)2 (calcium hydroxide) (lime) to raise the pH.
If water is very hard, what might you soften it with?
NaCO3 (sodium carbonate) which is a base
If water is too basic, what might you soften it with?
dilute H2SO4 (sulfuric acid) to lower the pH
How does oxygen get into water?
It dissolves from air into water
What solubility does oxygen have in water?
low solubility
How does temperature affect the solubility of oxygen in water?
inversely
e. g. Temperature Solubility of O2
11. 3mg/L @ 10 degrees celsius
9. 2mg/L @ 20 degrees celsius
What is water pollution?
The release of substances into the environment that damage the environment is called pollution.
What are the three main types of water pollution?
Eutrophication (also found in biology)
Organic Waste
Heavy metals
What is eutrophication?
Enrichment with nutrients (fertilisers / nitrates / phosphates) due to run off from land, pollution, dispersion in water and/or absorption by plants
How is eutrophication caused?
Due to run off from land (erosion from land) / due to pollution / dispersion in water / absorption by plants
What happens on the surface of the water due to eutrophication?
Rapid growth of plants (algae) on surface/ algal blooms formed
How does eutrophication and algal bloom affect the water?
Light is blocked from (photosynthesis reduced in) plants below surface