GCSE Chemistry: Water

This course covers Topic C3.2 : Water which is examined on Paper 3 of the GCSE AQA Chemistry Course. The Course will cover hard & soft water, treatment & techniques and distillation. A quiz appears at the end to refresh your memory.

Course Introduction This course covers Topic C3.2 : Water which is examined on Paper 3 of the GCSE AQA Chemistry Course. Topics covered include: Hard and soft water Purifying water The following information, included in this course, is examined at Higher Tier only: Temporary hard water contains hydrogencarbonate ions that decompose on heating to produce carbonate ions which react with calcium and magnesium ions to form precipitates.

Water is one of the essential components for life. We are used to see it flowing from the tap. There are a number of capture and treatment processes that water may go through before it reaches our homes.

Use these flashcards to help memorise some of the key terms and concepts involved with water treatment. Solute, sedimentation, desalination and filtration are some of the terms covered in this section.

Distillation is a process that separates water from something that has been dissolved within it. The process relies on the differing boiling points of a given substance. If the water has boiled away, then only the solute remains.

Hard water is water which contains dissolved magnesium and calcium ions. You can recognise soft water by its ability to easily mix a lather with soap. Both hard and soft water have advantages and disadvantages. There are methods to treat hard water.

Study these flashcards to learn the differences between hard and soft water as well as treatment methods and effects of prolonged use of each.

Take this quiz to refresh what you have learned within this course. There are a range of question types including multiple choice, fill in the blank and more. Test your knowledge of water and water treatment.