What are the minerals in Las Vegas, NV hard water. Or mostly in any hard water?

Question

Whats is the difference between hard and soft water?

Answer 1

Hard water has usually gone through rock strata which has minerals that can be dissolved in the water. usually this will be likestone and the absorbed mineral will be calcium carbonate (chalk). It's this that causes lime scale in kettles and sinks in hard water areas and makes it more difficult to get a lather when washing. Other minerals may be present, but heavy metals such as lead and cadmium in drinking water are not a good idea and these may be present more in soft water than hard water (see reference).

Answer 2

"soft water" has very few minerals in it. Distilled water would be the ultimate soft water, as it would have no minerals at all. Hard water could have a variety of minerals dissolved in it. Iron and sulphur are two of the most common and problematic. Hard water stains sinks and tubs, discolors clothes in the wash and interferes with the action of some soaps and detergents, and sometimes has an unpleasant taste.

Answer 3

The difference between hard and soft water is the amount of calcium or magnesium ions they contain, I'm willing to bet that Las Vegas has hard water because of these two ions.

Answer 4

Hard water is defined by the number of carbonates and bicarbonates present in the water, also refered to as alkalinity and the waters ability to resist a change in PH.

Answer 5

This simplest, shortest answer is this:

Hard water: rich in divalent ions
Soft water: rich in monovalent ions.

Strictly speaking there's more to it, but this will help you understand why you can never seem to get clean in soft water, and why it feels sort of greasy (compared to hard water). As others have pointed out different specific anions/cations are involved, but like I said...shortest, simplest.

hope this helps

Answer 6

Hard water in general could be iron zinc copper or sulphur.