(n). Drilling Fluids. One of three divalent cations that can be present in water, including calcium (Ca+2), magnesium (Mg+2) and ferrous (Fe+2, a form of iron). Hardness ions develop from dissolved minerals, bicarbonate, carbonate, sulfate and chloride. Bicarbonate salts cause temporary hardness, which can be removed by boiling the water and leaving behind a calcium carbonate solid. Mg+2and Fe+2 ions can be removed by raising the pH (with NaOH or KOH) and then allowing the precipitated Fe(OH)2 and Mg(OH)2 to settle out. Calcium hardness can be removed by adding excess sodium carbonate to precipitate Ca+2 as CaCO3. Hard water can be passed through an ion exchange column where hardness ions are captured on the resin. Removal of hardness is the process called water softening. See: acrylamide-acrylate polymer, acrylate polymer, calcium carbonate, calcium contamination, calcium mud, calcium test, cation, caustic potash, caustic soda, clay extender, EDTA, hard water, hydration, hydroxyethylcellulose, ion exchange, magnesium test, make-up water, peptized clay, peptizing agent, phosphate salt, PHPA mud, prehydrated bentonite, prehydration, SAPP, sequestering agent, sodium bicarbonate, sodium carbonate, soft water, total hardness test.