Hardness Hardness Hardness is a measure of the resistance to localized plastic deformation induced by either mechanical indentation or abrasion. Some materials (e.g. metals) are harder than others (e.g. plastics, wood). Macroscopic hardness is generally characterized by strong intermolecular bonds, but the behavior of solid materials under force is complex; therefore, there are different measurements of hardness: "scratch hardness", "indentation hardness", and "rebound hardness". Hardness is dependent on ductility, elastic stiffness, plasticity, strain, strength, toughness, viscoelasticity, and viscosity. Common examples of hard matter are ceramics, concrete, certain metals, and superhard materials, which can be contrasted with soft matter. There are three
Carbonate hardness [milli[equivalent]s] per litre (meq/L) or ppm. Carbonate hardness expressed in ppm does not necessarily equal carbonate alkalinity expressed in ppm. formula_1 whereas formula_2 However, for water with a pH below 8.5, the CO will be less than 1% of the HCO so carbonate alkalinity will equal carbonate hardness to within an error of less than 1%. In a solution where only CO affects the pH, carbonate hardness can be used to calculate the concentration of dissolved CO in the solution with the formula CO = 3 × KH × 10, where KH is degrees of carbonate hardness and CO is