What is the main reason why hard water is unsuitable for laundry and harmful for boilers?
(i) It contains dissolved gases from the atmosphere.
(ii) It forms scum/precipitate with soap.
(iii) It reduces the efficiency of the boiler.
I,II
Only I
Only II
II,III
Hard water contains calcium and magnesium salts, which react with soap to form insoluble scum or precipitate. This scum makes it difficult to produce lather with soap, making it unsuitable for laundry. Additionally, when hard water is used in boilers, the salts can deposit on the boiler surfaces, forming scale. This scale reduces the efficiency of the boiler over time.