An ion exchanger is used domestically as well as on an industrial scale to make hard water soft.a. Which type of hardness in water does the ion exchanger remove? (1 Mark)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________b. Describe the process of removing hardness from water through ion resin. (1 Mark)______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________c. How can an ion exchange resin be renewed (reused)? (1 Mark)____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

a. An ion exchanger removes both types of hardness in water: temporary hardness, which is caused by calcium and magnesium bicarbonates, and permanent hardness, which is caused by calcium and magnesium sulfates, chlorides, and nitrates.

b. The process of removing hardness from water through ion resin involves the exchange of ions. The hard water is passed through a bed of ion exchange resin. The resin beads are charged with sodium ions. As the hard water passes through, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are attracted to the resin beads. They displace the sodium ions, which are released into the water. The water that comes out of the ion exchanger is now 'soft', as the calcium and magnesium ions (which cause hardness) have been replaced by sodium ions.

c. An ion exchange resin can be renewed or regenerated by flushing it with a concentrated solution of sodium chloride (salt). The high concentration of sodium ions in the solution displaces the calcium and magnesium ions from the resin beads, recharging them with sodium ions. The resin is then ready to be used again to soften more hard water.

a. An ion exchanger removes both types of hardness in water: temporary hardness, which is caused by the presence of calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate, and permanent hardness, which is caused by the presence of calcium sulfate and magnesium sulfate.

b. The process of removing hardness from water through ion resin involves the exchange of ions. The hard water is passed through a bed of ion exchange resin. The resin beads are charged with sodium ions. As the hard water passes through, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water are attracted to the resin beads and are replaced by the sodium ions. This process transforms the hard water into soft water.

c. An ion exchange resin can be renewed or reused by recharging it with a solution of sodium chloride, also known as table salt. The sodium ions in the salt solution replace the calcium and magnesium ions that the resin beads have collected, effectively renewing the resin for further use. This process is known as regeneration.