Which chemical compound is commonly used to adjust pH levels in water treatment?

Sodium hydroxide is widely used in water treatment to adjust pH levels primarily because it is a strong base that readily dissociates in water, providing hydroxide ions that can increase the pH of a solution. This ability to effectively raise pH makes it particularly useful in situations where the water is too acidic and needs to be neutralized to meet regulatory standards or to optimize conditions for subsequent treatment processes.

Proper pH levels are crucial in water treatment because they can influence the solubility of various compounds, the effectiveness of disinfectants, and the overall stability of the water chemistry. Sodium hydroxide is favored in many treatment facilities for its efficiency and ease of handling.

In contrast, while calcium carbonate is also used to modify pH, it acts more as a buffer and is typically utilized when the goal is to increase alkalinity rather than directly adjust pH to a specific level. Ammonium sulfate and ferrous sulfate, on the other hand, are primarily used for purposes such as nutrient supplementation or coagulation and not specifically for making pH adjustments.