Total Hardness Test

Method: Colorimetric with test strips, < 1.5; 1.5 - 2.5; >2.5 mmol/L CaCO₃, MQuant^®

The MQuant^® total hardness test strips can be used to measure water hardness. The hardness (total hardness) of a given water is due to its content of salts of the alkaline earth metals calcium, magnesium, strontium, and barium (“hardening constituents”, later compounds only in traces). In the presence of a green indicator the hardness ions Ca²⁺ und Mg²⁺ react with Titriplex^® III to form a colorless, stable complex. The hardness ions that are present in excess relative to Titriplex^® III react with the indicator to form a red complex. The reaction zones of the test strip, which are impregnated with differing amounts of Titriplex^® III, thus assume a green to red color, depending on the hardness of the water sample. The hardness is measured semi-quantitatively by visual comparison of the reaction zones with the color rows of a color scale. For other sensitivities and graduations please consider the other MQuant^® tests as well as our Reflectoquant^® and Spectroquant^® portfolio.

MQUANT is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

REFLECTOQUANT is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

SPECTROQUANT is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Titriplex is a registered trademark of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany