CALCIUM HYDROXIDE

~ also known as Hydrated lime; 1305-62-0; Slaked lime; Calcium dihydroxide; Calcium(II) hydroxide; etc. is an inorganic compound that has many industrial and medical uses. It has a lot of other names including builders’ lime, hydrated lime, cal, caustic lime, slack lime, or pickling lime. The global calcium hydroxide market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.81% for the period of 2017–2021.

Chemical structure: Ca(OH)₂ or CaH₂O₂. Calcium hydroxide adopts a polymeric structure, as do all metal hydroxides.

Properties: Calcium hydroxide is a white powder or colorless crystal. It is slightly soluble in water and glycerol, but insoluble in ethanol.

~Calcium hydroxide is commercially produced by treating lime with water:

CaO + H₂O → Ca(OH)

~In the laboratory, it can be produced by mixing the aqueous solutions of sodium hydroxide and calcium chloride.

~It has also been identified to occur in burning coal dumps.

Chemical reactions and Uses: calcium hydroxide is utilized as a flocculent in water and sewage treatment. It is also used in the production of ammonia gas (NH₃), as seen below:

Ca(OH)₂ + 2NH₄Cl → 2NH₃ + CaCl₂ + 2H₂O

It is mainly used in the paper industry. Due to its low toxicity, slaked lime is widely used in the food industry.