Technical Essentials: Water Types, Purification, and Energy Measurement

Posted on Oct 4, 2025 in Chemistry

Common Types of Water

Water is categorized based on its source and treatment method:

  1. Tap Water: Typically treated for safety and potability by local municipalities.
  2. Mineral Water: Naturally sourced and contains minerals like calcium and magnesium.
  3. Spring Water: Comes from underground sources and may be untreated.
  4. Distilled Water: Purified through distillation, removing contaminants.
  5. Purified Water: Treated to remove impurities and often used in laboratories.
  6. Sparkling Water: Carbonated water with added bubbles.
  7. Deionized Water: Ion-free water used primarily in laboratories and industrial settings.

Standard Units of Measurement

  • Volume: Liters (L), milliliters (mL)
  • Mass: Kilograms (kg), grams (g)
  • Density: kg/m³

Municipal Water Purification Process

Municipal water purification typically involves several key steps to ensure water meets safety standards before reaching consumers:

  1. Coagulation and Flocculation: Chemicals are added to clump together small particles.
  2. Sedimentation: Heavy particles settle to the bottom of the treatment tank.
  3. Filtration: Water passes through layers of sand, gravel, and charcoal to remove remaining particles.
  4. Disinfection: Typically achieved with chlorine or chloramine to kill harmful microbes.
  5. pH Adjustment: Balancing acidity levels for safe consumption and pipe protection.
  6. Distribution: Water is piped to homes and businesses.

Common Boiler System Troubles

Boiler troubles can include various issues that affect heating efficiency and system longevity:

  • No Heat: Could be due to thermostat issues, pilot light problems, or low water levels.
  • Leaks: Commonly resulting from damaged seals or corrosion within the system.
  • Strange Noises: Often caused by mineral deposits or trapped air in the system.
  • Pilot Light Issues: Failure of the pilot light to ignite or stay lit.
  • Pressure Problems: System pressure that is either too high or too low.
  • Thermostat Malfunctions: Inaccurate temperature readings leading to poor control.
  • Kettling: Build-up of sediment causing loud boiling sounds.
  • Radiator Cold Spots: Could indicate trapped air or blockages within the radiator.

Regular maintenance and professional inspections are crucial to help prevent and resolve these issues.

Lime Soda Softening in Water Treatment

Lime soda softening is a process used in water treatment to soften hard water by removing calcium and magnesium ions, which can cause scaling. Key aspects include:

  1. Purpose: Softens hard water to prevent scaling in pipes and appliances.
  2. Process: Involves adding lime (calcium hydroxide) and soda ash (sodium carbonate) to water.
  3. Chemical Reaction: Calcium and magnesium ions combine with carbonate ions to form insoluble precipitates (calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide), which are then removed through filtration.
  4. Result: Produces softened water that is less likely to cause scale buildup.

Lime soda softening is effective but requires careful control of chemical dosages and pH levels to achieve optimal results in water treatment plants.

Measuring Calorific Value with Bomb Calorimetry

The calorific value measured by a bomb calorimeter indicates the amount of energy released when a substance is completely burned. Key steps and applications:

  1. Purpose: Determines the heat produced by combustion of a substance.
  2. Process: A sample is burned in a sealed chamber (the bomb) filled with oxygen at constant volume.
  3. Measurement: The temperature change of surrounding water is measured to calculate the energy released.
  4. Units: Typically reported in joules per gram (J/g) or kilojoules per kilogram (kJ/kg).
  5. Applications: Used to assess fuel quality, food energy content, and material energy values.

Bomb calorimetry provides precise measurements useful in various industries for evaluating energy content and combustion characteristics of substances.