Everything about Calcium Chloride totally explained
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Calcium chloride (CaCl
2), is an
ionic compound of
calcium and
chlorine. It is highly
soluble in water and it's
deliquescent. It is a
salt that's
solid at
room temperature, and it behaves as a typical
ionic
halide. It has several common applications such as
brine for refrigeration plants,
ice and dust control on roads, and in
cement. It can be produced directly from
limestone, but large amounts are also produced as a by-product of the
Solvay process. Because of its
hygroscopic nature, it must be kept in tightly-sealed containers.
Chemical properties
Calcium Chloride can serve as a source of calcium
ions in
solution, for instance for
precipitation because many calcium
compounds are
insoluble:
3 CaCl
2(
aq) + 2
K3PO4(
aq) →
Ca3(PO4)2(
s) + 6
KCl(
aq)
Molten CaCl
2 can be
electrolysed to give
calcium metal:
CaCl
2(
l) → Ca(
s) + Cl
2(
g)
Uses (industrial)
Millions of
tonnes of calcium chloride are made each year in the US alone, and it has a wide variety of industrial applications:
Because it's strongly
hygroscopic,
air or other
gases may be channeled through a column of calcium chloride to remove moisture. In particular, calcium chloride is usually used to pack
drying tubes to exclude atmospheric moisture from a reaction set-up while allowing gases to escape. It can also be added to liquids to remove suspended or dissolved water. The dissolving process is highly
exothermic and rapidly produces temperatures of around 60 °
C (140 °
F). In this capacity, it's known as a drying agent or
desiccant. It is converted to a
brine as it absorbs the
water or
water vapor from the substance to be dried:
» CaCl
2 + 2 H
2O → CaCl
2·2H
2O
Aided by the intense heat evolved during its dissolution, calcium chloride is also used as an
ice-melting compound. Unlike the more-common
sodium chloride (rock salt or
halite), it's relatively harmless to plants and soil; however, recent observations in Washington state suggest it may be particularly harsh on roadside evergreen trees. It is also more effective at lower temperatures than sodium chloride. When distributed for this use, it usually takes the form of small white balls a few millimetres in diameter, called
prills (see picture at top of page).
Used for its
hygroscopic property, it can be applied to keep a liquid layer on the surface of the roadway, which holds dust down. It is used in concrete mixes to help speed up the initial setting, however chloride ion leads to corrosion of steel
rebar, so it shouldn't be used in
reinforced concrete.
Aqueous calcium chloride (in solution with water) lowers the freezing point as low as -52°C (-62°F), making it ideal for filling agricultural implement tires as a liquid ballast, aiding traction in cold climates.
Other industrial applications include use as as an additive in plastics, as a drainage aid for wastewater treatment, as an additive in
fire extinguishers, as an additive in control scaffolding in
blast furnaces, and as a thinner in
fabric softener.
Uses (food)
As an ingredient, it's listed as a permitted food additive in the European Union for use as a
sequestrant and
firming agent with the
E number E509. The anhydrous form has been approved by the FDA as a packaging aid to ensure dryness (CPG 7117.02).
Calcium chloride is commonly used as an
Electrolyte and has an extremely
salty taste, as found in sports drinks and other beverages such as
Smartwater and
Nestle bottled water. It can also be used as a preservative to maintain firmness in canned vegetables or in higher concentrations in
pickles to give a salty taste while not increasing the food's
sodium content. It is even found in snack foods, including
Cadbury Caramilk chocolate bars (purpose unknown).
It can be used to make a
caviar substitute from vegetable or fruit juices or added to processed milk to restore the natural balance between calcium and protein for the purposes of making cheese such as
brie and
stilton. Calcium chloride's exothermic properties are exploited in many 'self heating' food products where it's activated (mixed) with water to start the heating process, providing a non-explosive, dry fuel that's easily activated.
In brewing beers (esp. ales and bitters), calcium chloride is sometimes used to correct mineral deficiencies in the brewing water (calcium is important for enzyme function during the mash, for kettle protein coagulation (the "hot break") and yeast metabolism) and adds permanent hardness to the water. The chloride ions enhance flavour and give a perception of sweetness and fuller flavour, whereas the sulfate ions in
Gypsum, which is also used to add calcium ions to brewing water, tend to impart a drier, crisper flavour with more bitterness.
Uses (biological/medical)
Calcium chloride can be injected as
intravenous therapy for the treatment of
hypocalcaemia (low serum calcium). It can be used for: insect bites or stings (such as Black Widow Spider bites); sensitivity reactions, particularly when characterized by
urticaria (hives); magnesium intoxication; as an aid in management of the acute symptoms in lead colic; in cardiac resuscitation, particularly after open heart surgery.
Parenteral calcium can be used when
epinephrine has failed to improve weak or ineffective
myocardial contractions. Calcium chloride injection may antagonize cardiac toxicity as measured by
electrocardiogram (ECG/EKG).
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It can help to protect the myocardium from dangerously-high levels of serum
potassium in
hyperkalemia. Calcium chloride can be used to quickly treat Calcium Channel Blocker toxicity, from the side effects of drugs such as Diltiazem (
Cardizem) - helping avoid potential heart attacks.
The aqueous form of calcium chloride is used in genetic
transformation of cells by increasing the cell membrane permeability, inducing
competence for DNA uptake (allowing DNA fragments to enter the cell more readily).
It can also be used in the
reef aquarium hobby for adding bio-available calcium in solution for calcium-using animals such as
algae,
snails, hard
tube worms, and
Corals although the use of
calcium hydroxide (kalkwasser mix) or a
calcium reactor is the preferred method of adding calcium. However, calcium chloride is the quickest method to increase calcium levels as it dissolves readily in water.
Precautions
Calcium chloride is an irritant, particularly on moist skin. Wear gloves and goggles or a full face shield to protect hands and eyes; avoid inhalation.
Dry calcium chloride reacts
exothermically when exposed to water.
Burns can result in the mouth and
esophagus if humans or other animals ingest dry calcium chloride pellets. Small children are more susceptible than adults (who generally have had experience trying to eat hot food, and can react accordingly) so calcium chloride pellets should be kept out of their reach.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Calcium Chloride'.
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