Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process - Discussion

Hard water contains a significant quantity of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. In general, hard water is not harmful for health. In fact, it may confer some benefits because it is rich in minerals and reduces the solubility of potentially toxic metal ions such as lead and copper. However, there are some industrial applications where hard water may lead to inefficiencies or damage to containers and pipes. In such instances, water softening methods are used. When water is softened, metal cations are exchanged for sodium ions.