9.26 What is meant by ‘demineralised’ water and how can it be obtained ?

 

Demineralised water is free from all soluble mineral salts. It does not contain any anions or cations.

Demineralised water is obtained by passing water successively through a cation exchange (in the H+ form) and an anion exchange (in the OH- form) resin. 

During the cation exchange process, H+ exchanges for Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, and other cations present in water.

2RH(s) + M2+(aq)      MR2(s)  + 2H+(aq)........1

In the anion exchange process, OH- exchange for anions such as Co32-  , SO42- , CI- , HCO3- etc. present in water.

RNH2(s)  +  H2O(I)      RNH3+  .  OH- (s) 
RHN3+OH-(s)  + X-(aq)     RNH3+ . X-(s)  + OH-(aq).........(2)

OH- ions liberated in reaction (2) neutralize H+ ions liberated in reaction (1)

Thereby Forming water,

H+(aq)  + OH-(aq)  H2O(I)