DESCLAING KETTLES

Hard water contains dissolved magnesium and calcium ions.

Temporary hardness is caused by dissolved calcium hydrogen
carbonate.
calcium carbonate + water + carbon dioxide calcium
hydrogen carbonate
Temporary hardness is removed
boiling the water.
The insoluble calcium
carbonate forms a layer
of limescale. This may coat the
heating element in kettles and irons,
for example, making it less efficient.
Limescale is unsightly and it clogs up hot
and boilers.

by

water pipes

DESCALING KETTLES
Limescale is the hard, off-white, chalky deposit found in kettles,
hot-water boilers and the inside of inadequately maintained
hot-water central heating systems.
Limescale collects inside kettles and water heaters in hardwater areas. Hard-water areas tend to be geographically
located in limestone areas. Hard water contains more dissolved
calcium ions than normal water. Calcium carbonate forms when
the water is boiled. This limescale can be removed by
treatment with an acid that is strong enough to react with

calcium carbonate but not strong

enough to damage the metal. Vinegar can
be used to descale kettles. Commercial
descalers use other acid solutions such as
methanoic acid and sulphamic acid, citric
acid, formic acid, glycolic acid, hydrochloric
acid, phosphoric acid.
Strongly acidic
descaling agents are
often corrosive to the eyes and skin.

Sulphamic acid is used in descaling include home coffee,

espresso equipment and in denture cleaners.

Indicator

pKI

Color

pH
range

Acid

Base

Thymol Blue 1st change

red

yellow

1.5

1.2 - 2.8

Methyl Orange

red

yellow

3.7

3.2 - 4.4

Bromocresol Green

yellow

blue

4.7

3.8 - 5.4

Methyl Red

yellow

red

5.1

4.8 - 6.0

Bromothymol Blue

yellow

blue

7.0

6.0 - 7.6

Phenol Red

yellow

red

7.9

6.8 - 8.4

Thymol Blue 2nd change

yellow

blue

8.9

8.0 - 9.6

Phenolphthalein

colorles
s

magent
a

9.4

8.2 10.0