What do you call the process of removing the hardness causing minerals from water?

The process of removing hardness causing minerals from water is known as water softening. Water hardness is primarily due to the presence of calcium and magnesium ions. Softening typically involves exchanging these hardness ions with sodium or potassium ions through ion exchange methods, effectively lowering the hardness of the water.

While demineralization and dehardinization may suggest similar processes, they are not specifically focused on hardness. Demineralization refers to the removal of all mineral ions from water, which may not be specific to just hardness. Similarly, dehardinization is a less commonly used term that may not be widely recognized or specifically defined in the context of water treatment.

Thus, water softening is the most accurate and widely accepted term for this specific process, ensuring that water is treated to reduce hardness in order to improve its quality for various applications.