Compare with water hardness .A material that lowers water hardness when dissolved in water. For example, sodium carbonate ("washing soda") softens water by precipitating Ca 2+ ions as CaCO 3 . Zeolites soften water by exchanging Ca 2+ ions with Na + ions.
WATER SOFTENER (SOFT WATER; WATER SOFTENING)
Meaning of WATER SOFTENER (SOFT WATER; WATER SOFTENING) in English
General chemistry English glossary. Английский глоссарий общей химии. 2012