Certain phosphates are helpful in making hard water soft.Which phosphates are used and how do they help in making water soft?

Explanation

To answer the question about which phosphates are used to soften hard water and how they work, we can break down the solution into clear steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Hard Water**:
- Hard water contains high concentrations of minerals, primarily calcium (Ca²⁺) and magnesium (Mg²⁺) ions. These minerals can cause scaling and reduce the effectiveness of soaps.

**Hint**: Identify the main components of hard water.
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