Final answer:
Water softeners remove calcium and similar elements like magnesium. This is true because they use processes like lime softening or ion exchange to replace calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions, resulting in soft water.
Step-by-step explanation:
A water softener removes calcium and elements such as magnesium that show similar chemical behavior. True. Water softeners are designed to remove hardness-causing minerals such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals can cause scale build-up in pipes and plumbing fixtures.
Water softeners use processes like lime softening or ion exchange to replace the calcium and magnesium ions with sodium ions, resulting in soft water.