Water Notes

WATER

Water is a polar (has a slightly + ve and – ve ends) covalent compound with many unique
properties of water.

 The water molecule is described as being polar – (which means the molecule has a
slightly + ve and slightly – ve ends) and its shape is shown in figures [Z].

δ+ H δ+ H
Oδ– or O δ– δ– δ+

δ+ H δ+ H

Figure [Z]

[This property may be attributed to the unequal sharing of the electrons in the H – O
covalent bonds within the water molecule]

 Water is a liquid at room temperature whereas many covalent compounds of similar

molecular mass are gases at room temperature.
[This property may be attributed to the high proportion of the hydrogen bonds a type of
strong intermolecular force in water, in comparison with similar covalent compounds]

 Water has a high surface tension – i.e. the surface of water behaves as if it is enclosed in
an elastic membrane (skin). [This property may be attributed to the high proportion of the
hydrogen bonds a type of strong intermolecular force in water.]
 Water forms clusters cages around both cations and anions.
[This property may be attributed to its polar nature – it having both slightly + ve and
slightly – ve ends]

Cages around anions Cages around cations

– ion + ion
 Water Notes

Water as a solvent

One of the reasons water is so widely used in everyday life apart from it being so freely available

that it is a good solvent for both ionic and covalent compounds

Hardness of Water

Hardness of water is caused principally by the presence of dissolved Calcium or magnesium salts
in the water.

These salts include Calcium hydrogencarbonate, and magnesium hydrogencarbonate (are

responsible for temporary hardness) and calcium sulphate and magnesium sulphate (are
responsible for permanent hardness)

Causes of Hardness

The hardness of a water sample is defined in terms of the amount of soluble calcium ions and to
a lesser extent magnesium ions it contains in parts per million.

Hardness is due mainly to rain water which is slightly acidic because of the dissolved CO 2
forming Carbonic acid, flowing down limestone areas. Calcium carbonate (limestone) reacts
with the slightly acidic water and forms soluble calcium hydrogencarbonate and magnesium
hydrogencarbonate thus providing the calcium or magnesium ions in the river water.

It is these ions which are responsible for temporary hardness.

Temporary hardness is the type of hardness that is caused by dissolved calcium and
magnesium hydrogencarbonate. This type of hardness can be removed by boiling.

Permanent hardness is the type of hardness that is caused by dissolved calcium and magnesium
carbonate. This type of hardness cannot be removed by boiling. However it can be.

The act of removing the hardness from water is called Softening.

There are several methods for removing the hardness (Softening) of water.

1. Boiling : boiling or heating will only remove temporary hardness from a water sample.
How – When temporary hard water is boiled the soluble calcium or magnesium
hydrogencarbonate is converted to the insoluble calcium or magnesium carbonate.
heat
Ca(HCO3)2(aq) CaCO3(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g)

2. Addition of Washing Soda : When Sodium Carbonate decahydrate (also called washing
soda) is dissolved in hard water (temporary or permanent) the unwanted calcium or
 Water Notes

magnesium ions react with the washing soda and are precipitated out of solution as
insoluble carbonates, thus leaving the water soft.
Na2CO3 (aq) + Ca2+ / Mg2+ (aq) CaCO3(s) /MgCO3(s) + Na+ (aq)

Na2SO4 (aq) + Ca2+ / Mg2+ (aq) CaCO3(s) /MgCO3(s) + Na2SO4+ (aq)

3.
4.

Water Purification

Palatable - is the term used to describe water that has a cool in temperature, is of a low
turbidity, an acceptable colour has no offensive odour nor taste and is pleasant tasting to drink.

Potable - is the term used to describe water that is satisfactory for domestic consumption - the
water does not contain objectionable pollution, contamination, minerals or infective agents.

Raw water – refers to untreated water, i.e. water as drawn from natural sources – springs, river,
streams, etc.

Water treatment terms

Coagulation -

Aggregation – is com

Sedimentation

Filtration

Disinfection – is the process by which pathogenic (disease causing) organisms are killed.