You can also buy water glass to soften water. The contact of water glass with metal ions leads to the formation of an insoluble silicate of this metal itself, due to which the water becomes softer.
This technology is used in the production of household detergents, in the pulp and paper industry, where boilers for pulping are lined with the help of this reaction.
It is noteworthy that water glass helps to shift the pH to the alkaline side due to sodium ions. This valuable property has found the widest usage where the work of the remaining components of the means and compositions depends on the verified balance.
First of all, this is important in the production of cleaning products, since the high alkalinity of water glass helps to saponify fats and oils to obtain fatty acid salts. Moreover, water glass is used as a cheap, affordable filler for soap.
The ability to adjust the pH with the help of silicate compositions is used in every possible way in the process of bleaching paper and textiles, as well as during the marking of glass.