Some places the water just feels so soft during a shower or when washing your hands. Other places, especially old buildings the water can feel a lot less comfy when washing your hands etc. Why is this?
In: Chemistry
Yup. It’s minerals. Hard water is water that’s come from a limestone reservoir underground. It contains a lot of Calcium and Magnesium ions, dissolved from the limestone.
You have it about right! “Soft” is the correct word. Some (like newer) buildings have a “[Water Softener](https://www.bing.com/search?q=what+are+water+softener&qs=n&form=QBRE&sp=-1&pq=what+arewater+softener&sc=6-22&sk=&cvid=E6485B6CF72D443BAD17BBE7934F2F7B)” which removes minerals from the water, making it feel less “rough.”
[removed]
Along with mineral content having different feels, it can also be the type of aerator or sprayer. Adding air bubbles to the water make it “softer” and better at “wetting” surfaces than a solid stream of just water (which has a single surface tension rather than one subdivided/perforated/weakened by air).
Also air bubbles added to water underneath a floating object such as a boat, will cause the item to sink quite rapidly. Structural integrity of the surface tension is destroyed by subdivision (aside from air compresses and water doesn’t, so bubbly water is “extra squishy” and can’t carry loads).
Latest Answers