APPLIED CHEMISTRY-1

Submitted to: Sir Shafi –Ur-Rehman

Submitted by: Laiba Ashraf

Registration no: UW-19-Bsc- Che -002

Submission date: 07-october-2019

DEPARTMENT OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING

WAH ENGINEERING COLLEGE

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Q1. Explain the differences between soft and hard water?
Soft water:
We use the term ‘soft water’ to indicate water that has low concentrations of
ions, in particular ions of magnesium and calcium. Such water naturally occurs
where the drainage basin of rivers is formed of impervious, hard, calcium-poor
rocks. For example, the Western Highlands in Scotland is one such place.
Due to the fact that soft water has few calcium ions, no soap scum is formed in
regular washing. There is also no inhibition of the soap’s lathering action.
Similarly, soft water does not produce calcium deposits in water heating systems. .
 Advantages of soft water:
 Soft skin
 Prolonged life of water heaters, washing machines, dishwashers, etc.
 Low energy bills
 Clean dishes
 Disadvantages of Soft Water:
 Not suitable for drinking
 May cause heart or circulatory problems
 Can harm blood cells and interfere with the process in which oxygen is carried
to our organs.
 Indications of Soft water:
Soft water feels slippery or slimy, as if it did not rinse off. It can taste
salty due to its prevalent sodium content. Soap and detergent will not lather up if
used in too great a quantity. Soft water leaves no mineral deposits in your shower,
bath or on your dishes. Very soft water leaches metals such as lead and copper
from pipes, plumbing fixtures and solder, lending a metallic taste and odor to the
water. The high metal content poses a threat not only to your pipes but also to
your health if it exceeds EPA guidelines.

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 Hard water:
The water that we call ‘hard’ is actually water that has high mineral
content. When water percolates through deposits of chalk and limestone that are
made up of magnesium carbonates and calcium, hard water is formed. Hard water
contains a significant quantity of dissolved minerals, such as calcium and
magnesium. In general, hard water is not harmful for health. In fact, it may confer
some benefits because it is rich in minerals and reduces the solubility of potentially
toxic metal ions such as lead and copper. However, there are some industrial
applications where hard water may lead to inefficiencies or damage to containers
and pipes.
 Advantages of hard water:
 It is rich in essential minerals
 It is suitable for everyday drinking.
 Useful for fighting and preventing certain heart and cardiovascular diseases.
 Better taste (than the one you will get while drinking soft water)
 Disadvantages of hard water:
 Dishes with spots
 Clothes that is dingy looking
 It may use up more energy.
 Reduces the efficiency of household appliances
 Could cause an increase in eczema, especially in children
 Dry skin
 Indication of hard water:
Hard water interferes with almost every cleaning task from
laundering to dishwashing to bathing and personal grooming. Hard water may cause
a film on glass shower doors, shower walls, bathtubs; sinks etc .Hair washed with
hard water may feel sticky and look dull. Water flow may be reduced by deposits in
pipes.

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 Clothes laundered in hard water may look dingy and feel harsh and scratchy. Dishes and
glasses may be spotted when dry.

Figure: 1, Soft and hard water

Differences between hard and soft water

Now, we have looked at all the positive and negative sides of both types of water. It’s
essential to ensure that you know all the differences.
No Hard water Soft water
1. Hard Soap is not so effective Soft soap is easily effective
2. No foam and lather from hard soaps. Bubbly lather from soap.
3. Leaves spots on the washed dishes after Does not leave any spots on dishes after they
they are dried are dried
4. Contains minerals like magnesium and Contains sodium ion
Calcium
5. Sometimes preferred drinking water Sometimes not preferred drinking water
6. Hair and skin become dry Hair and skin become soft
7. Water from saline sources Water from surfaces sources
Example: Groundwater like deep wells Example: Rainwater
8. High TDS level Low TDS level
9. Use Reverse osmosis (RO) based water Use simple activated carbon or UV water
purifier purifier
10. Cleaning quality of soap is depressed. Cleaning quality of soap is not depressed.
11. More time and fuel required for cooking. Less fuel and time required for cooking.
12. Often has a characteristic taste. Tastes salty.

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Q2. Explain the differences between accuracy and precision?

Definition of Accuracy:
A term used in measuring a process or device. Accuracy refers to the
closeness of a measured value to a standard or known value. For example, if in
lab you obtain a weight measurement of 3.2 kg for a given substance, but the
actual or known weight is 10 kg, then your measurement is not accurate. In this
case, your measurement is not close to the known value.
 Importance of accuracy:
 Accuracy is important because bad equipment, poor data processing or human
error can lead to inaccurate results that are not very close to the truth.
 Precision is how close a series of measurements of the same thing are to each
other.

Definition of Precision:
A term used in measuring a process or device. The degree to which an
instrument or process will repeat the same value. Using the example above, if
you weigh a given substance five times, and get 3.2 kg each time, then your
measurement is very precise. Precision is independent of accuracy. You can be
very precise but inaccurate, as described above. You can also be accurate but
imprecise.
 Importance of precision:
 Precision in scientific investigations is important in order to ensure we are
getting the correct results.

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  Since we typically use models or samples to represent something much
bigger, small errors may be magnified into large errors during the experiment.

Figure: 2, Accuracy and Precision

Differences between accuracy and precision
NO Accuracy Precision
1. Accuracy refers to the level of agreement Precision implies the level of variation that
between the actual measurement and the lies in the values of several measurements
absolute measurement. of the same factor.
2. Accuracy is the measure of quantity to Precision measures how well measurements
reality. can be reproduced.
3. Accuracy takes into account the accepted Precision does not take into account the
value. accepted value.
4. In accuracy, bad results would be far from In precision, bad results would be scattered
the actual value.
5. Accuracy does not speak about the quality. Precision speaks about quality.

6. Accuracy has a single factor. Precision has multiple factors.

7. It is concerned with a systematic error It is concerned with random error.
8. Accuracy can be improved Precision cannot be improved
9. Accuracy depends upon simple technique of Precision depends upon many factors and
analysis. requires many sophisticated techniques of
analysis.
10. Depends on the person measuring. Depends on the measuring tools.

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  References:
 Emerson, A. G. D. (2003). Quantitative Forecasting of Problems in Industrial
Water Systems. World Scientific. pp. 7–. ISBN 978-981-238-184-2.
 Accuracy and precision "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the
original (PDF) on 2015-03-11. Retrieved 2015-08-09
 External links:
 https://www.waterfiltermag.com/hard-water-vs-soft-water/
https://www.diffen.com/difference/Hard_Water_vs_Soft_Water
 https://keydifferences.com/difference-between-accuracy-and-precision.html
 https://labwrite.ncsu.edu/Experimental%20Design/accuracyprecision.htm
 https://byjus.com/chemistry/difference-between-hard-water-and-soft-water/