Which process removes calcium and magnesium by the softener?

The process that removes calcium and magnesium in a water softener is ion exchange. During ion exchange, the calcium and magnesium ions in hard water are replaced with sodium ions. This occurs within a resin that is charged with sodium. When hard water passes through the softening unit, the divalent calcium and magnesium ions adhere to the resin, displacing the sodium ions, which are released into the water. This effectively reduces the hardness of the water, making it softer and more suitable for various applications, such as in household use and industrial processes.

Filtration does not specifically target hardness; it is primarily designed to remove particulates and impurities from water. Reverse osmosis can remove a broad range of contaminants, including some ions, but it is a different process that relies on semi-permeable membranes and pressure. Distillation involves boiling water to produce steam and then condensing that steam back into water, separating various components based on differing boiling points, but it is not primarily focused on removing hardness minerals like calcium and magnesium.