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Ion exchange is a process that involves the reversible exchange of ions between a solid material and a liquid solution. This solid material, often a resin or zeolite, contains mobile ions that can be released into the solution and replaced by other ions present in the liquid. The process is driven by the differing affinities of the ions for the solid material.

In ion exchange, the solid material acts as a medium that can capture and hold specific types of ions while releasing others. For example, a cation exchange resin will capture positively charged ions (cations) from a solution and release its own cations in exchange. Conversely, an anion exchange resin will capture negatively charged ions (anions) and release its own anions.

This phenomenon is widely utilized in various applications. Water softening is a common example, where hard water containing calcium and magnesium ions is passed through a cation exchange resin. The resin captures these hardness-causing ions and releases sodium ions, thereby softening the water. Ion exchange is also employed in water purification, demineralization, chromatography for separating and analyzing chemical substances, and in the recovery of valuable metals from industrial waste. The selectivity of the ion exchange material for specific ions is crucial for the efficiency and effectiveness of these processes. The process can be reversed by treating the saturated ion exchange material with a concentrated solution of the original ions, allowing for the regeneration of the material and reuse.