1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. Polyphosphates like sodium hexametaphosphate (calgon) are used as water softening agents because they

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. Polyphosphates like sodium hexametaphosphate (calgon) are used as water softening agents because they

Hydrogen

Solution:

Polyphosphates like sodium hexametaphos phate (calgon) form soluble complexes with cations like $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ present in hard water and hence used as water softening agents.
$Na_{6}P_{6}O_{18} \to2Na^{+}+Na_{4}P_{6}O^{2-}_{18}$
$M^{2+}+Na_{4}P_{6}O^{2-}_{18} \to\left[Na_{2}MP_{6}O_{_{18}}\right]^{2-}+2Na^{+}$