Question
Sodium carbonate is added to hard water to make it soft.

Answer

The hardness of water is due to the presence of chlorides and sulphates of calcium and magnesium in it.
$Na _2 CO _3$ is added to it to soften such water and make it suitable for use.
The reaction with $Na _2 CO _3$ causes the formation of insoluble carbonate salts of magnesium and calcium thus making the water soft.
$MgCl _{2(a q)}+ Na _2 CO _{3(s)} \rightarrow MgCO _{3(s)}+2 NaCl _{( s )}$
Magnesium Sodium Magnesium Sodium
chloride carbonate carbonate chloride

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