WBCS.LIVE practice question

Temporary hardness of water is caused by the presence of which of the following?

Solve this multiple-choice question and check the correct answer with its explanation below.

Answer options

  1. Chlorides of Calcium and Magnesium
  2. Bicarbonates of Calcium and Magnesium
  3. Sulphates of Calcium and Magnesium
  4. Nitrates of Calcium and Magnesium

Correct answer and explanation

Correct answer: Bicarbonates of Calcium and Magnesium

Explanation: āœ… Correct Answer: (B) Bicarbonates of Calcium and Magnesium šŸ“š Explanation: Temporary hardness in water is primarily due to the dissolved bicarbonate minerals, specifically calcium bicarbonate and magnesium bicarbonate. This type of hardness is called "temporary" because it can be easily removed by boiling the water. When water is boiled, the soluble bicarbonates decompose into insoluble carbonates, which precipitate out as scale. In contrast, permanent hardness is caused by chlorides and sulphates, which require chemical treatment for removal.