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Ch.18 - Chemistry of the Environment
Chapter 18, Problem 48

In the lime soda process once used in large scale munici-pal water softening, calcium hydroxide prepared from lime and sodium carbonate are added to precipitate Ca2+ as CaCO3(s) and Mg2+ as Mg(OH)2(s): Ca2+(aq) + CO32-(aq) → CaCO3(s) Mg2+(aq) + 2 OH-(aq) → MgOH2(aq) How many moles of Ca(OH)2 and Na2CO3 should be added to soften (remove the Ca2+ and Mg2+) 1200 L of water in which [Ca2+] = 5.0x10-4 M and [Mg2+] = 7.0x10-4 M?

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Stoichiometry

Stoichiometry is the calculation of reactants and products in chemical reactions based on the balanced chemical equations. It allows us to determine the amount of substances needed or produced in a reaction. In this context, understanding the stoichiometric relationships between calcium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and the ions in water is essential for calculating the required moles to achieve water softening.
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Molarity

Molarity is a measure of concentration defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. It is crucial for determining how much of a substance is present in a given volume of solution. In this question, the molarity of calcium and magnesium ions in the water is provided, which is necessary for calculating the total moles of these ions that need to be removed through precipitation.
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Precipitation Reactions

Precipitation reactions occur when two soluble reactants form an insoluble product, or precipitate, that separates from the solution. In the lime soda process, calcium and magnesium ions react with carbonate and hydroxide ions to form solid calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide. Understanding these reactions is key to determining how to effectively remove these ions from water to achieve softening.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question

The Ogallala aquifer described in the Closer Look box in Section 18.3, provides 82% of the drinking water for the people who live in the region, although more than 75% of the water that is pumped from it is for irrigation. Irrigation withdrawals are approximately 18 billion gallons per day. (a) Assuming that 2% of the rainfall that falls on an area of 600,000 km2 recharges the aquifer, what average annual rainfall would be required to replace the water removed for irrigation?

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Textbook Question

The organic anion

is found in most detergents. Assume that the anion under-goes aerobic decomposition in the following manner: C18H29SO3- + 51 O2 → 36 CO2(aq) + 28 H2O (l) + 2 H+(aq) + 2 SO42-(aq) What is the total mass of O2 required to biodegrade 10.0 g of this substance?

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Textbook Question

Magnesium ions are removed in water treatment by the addition of slaked lime, Ca(OH)2. Write a balanced chemical equation to describe what occurs in this process

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Textbook Question

(b) Draw the Lewis structures of two example THMs.

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Textbook Question

A reaction for converting ketones to lactones, called the Baeyer–Villiger reaction,

is used in the manufacture of plastics and pharmaceu- ticals. 3-Chloroperbenzoic acid is shock-sensitive, how- ever, and prone to explode. Also, 3-chlorobenzoic acid is a waste product. An alternative process being developed uses hydrogen peroxide and a catalyst consisting of tin deposited within a solid support. The catalyst is readily recovered from the reaction mixture. (a) What would you expect to be the other product of oxidation of the ketone to lactone by hydrogen peroxide?

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Textbook Question

In the following three instances, which choice is greener in a chemical process? Explain. (a) A reaction that can be run at 350 K for 12 h without a catalyst or one that can be run at 300 K for 1 h with a reusable catalyst.

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