Hardness of water

Data Collected:

Analysis of Data:  To Calculate the Volume of Suds the Formulae is used

(Increase in Water due to Detergent - Initial Volume in Water)

{See Graph for Details}

Rain Water: Volume of suds = final - Initial

                                              = 71.3 ml - 50ml

                    Volume of suds = 21.3 ml

Tap Water:   Volume of suds = final - Initial

                                               = 65.28ml - 50ml

                     Volume of suds = 15.28 ml

Sea Water: Volume of suds = final - Initial

                                             = 53.11ml - 50ml

                   Volume of suds = 3.11ml

Aqua pure: Volume of suds = final- Initial

                                             = 92.2ml - 50ml

                   Volume of suds = 42.2ml

Nautilus: Volume of suds = final - Initial

                                                 = 80. 64ml - 50ml

                       Volume of suds = 30.64ml

Source of error:

• Could have poured more than 2 drops of detergent
• Misreading of cylinder
• Could have shaken each water test with more or less vigour than I did with the others.
• Could have spilt some of the water in the cylinder
• Contamination of water samples

Conclusion: The hardness or softness of water is determined by the level of mineral contents in the water, particularly calcium and magnesium ions. Water, being the universal solvent readily dissolves most ionic compounds, which is why it is rarely ever exists in a pure state. Each type of water has a different level hard or soft. Drinking water such as Aqua pure and Nautilus are the softest of the 5.. Tap water is not soft due to exposure to different compounds in the water like Calcium Carbonate (Limestone). Sea water contains a large variety of dissolved minerals and pollutants which hamper lathering making it the hardest of the water varieties. The softest water would be rain water as rain falls as pure water but the risk of contamination when collecting rain water is high thus it’s unusually low suds production . The Lather Test is very reliable if there is no other way to test water.