Why is reverse osmosis water so hard on copper pipes? Does it make acid while it is leaching the metal out of it?
Question for a chemist
- Thread starter LarryOldenburg
- Start date
RO water is aggressive because there is very little of anything in it mineral, or buffer wise. Roughly, waters are either scaling or corrosive. If they contain little to nothing, they will dissolve many things they come in contact with. Metal or mineral. Water is always trying to reach equalibrium by dissolving or depositing something. It won't create acid, but some RO water is on the acid side, say 6.0-6.5 depending on how far it is processed.
Thank you very much. Question came up over on solarpaneltalk I didn't quite know how to answer it. I just know it's very hard on copper pipe.
RO is agressive to most minerals and most metals. Copper is highly suceptible to some things like Chlorine, and like Aluminum it is also susceptible to elevated pH levels.
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