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hard water

   Also found in: Dictionary/thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.

hard water

Water that contains mineral salts of calcium and magnesium, principally as bicarbonates, chlorides, and sulfates, and sometimes iron. Hardness caused by calcium bicarbonate is known as temporary, because boiling converts the bicarbonate to the insoluble carbonate; hardness from the other salts is called permanent. The calcium and magnesium in hard waters form a hard, adherent scale on boiler plates, increasing fuel consumption and leading to deterioration through overheating. Home water softeners consist of tanks containing zeolite minerals or ion-exchange resins, which contain sodium ions that change places with the calcium and magnesium.


hard water [′härd ¦wȯd·ər]
(chemistry)
Water that contains certain salts, such as those of calcium or magnesium, which form insoluble deposits in boilers and form precipitates with soap.


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When hard water mixes with soap, it can form a sticky film on your tub.
Cluelessness is a fundamental law of the universe, such as gravity or hard water.
1) Soaps strip the skin of its natural lubrication, and even water alone, especially if it is hard water, washes off the oils that help skin retain its moisture.
 
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