Tag: Calcium Compounds

What you Should Know about Calcium Chloride

When you hear the word calcium chloride what comes into your mind? Probably, you will say that just like other calcium compounds, it is used as an active ingredient on dietary supplements.

However, it is wrong.

Calcium chloride is not advisable to be used as an active ingredient in dietary supplements because of the presence of the element chlorine, which is one of the integral parts of the chemical compound apart from calcium. Instead, it is used on other applications that will be discussed on the later part of this article. But for the mean time, let us first discuss how calcium chloride is prepared.

Preparation of Calcium Chloride

This chemical compound is a by-product of the so-called Solvay process, or also known as the ammonia-soda process. It is a major industrial process employed in producing calcium carbonate wherein the calcium carbonate is reacted with hydrochloric acid, thus producing calcium chloride.

Application

There are millions of tonnes of calcium chloride that are produced in United States alone. It has different applications which are as follows:

Since calcium chloride is hygroscopic (substances that readily absorbs water from its environment), it can be utilized to dry air and other gases as well. The process involves the conversion of calcium chloride into brine as it absorbs either water or water vapor from the gases that need to be dried.

Because of the extreme heat involved during the compounds dissolution, calcium chloride also acts as an ice-melting compound. It is quite harmless on soil and plants compared to sodium chloride. When used for this purpose, it is now of small white balls which are of few millimeters in diameter which is known as prills.

It is also mixed up with concrete in order to strengthen its mixture as well as to help fast track the initial settings. However, it is not advisable to be used on reinforced concrete since the compound contains chloride ion which is corrosive to steel bars.

It is also employed on minimizing dust on several highways. Its hydroscopic characteristic keeps the liquid layer on the highways surface, which in return holds the dust.

It is also act as an additive in manufacturing of plastics.

It is also employed for waste water treatment as a drainage aid.

Its aqueous form is utilized on the cells genetic transformation by enhancing the permeability of the cell membrane. Such process permits DNA fragments to enter the cell.

There are several precautions with regards to exposure on calcium chloride. Since it also contains acidic properties, you must always use goggles and gloves to protect your eyes and hands. Avoid inhaling it or taking it directly into your mouth. Once reacted with water, it can burn your mouth as well as your esophagus.

Calcium Carbide The Illuminating Chemical Compound

Just like with other calcium compounds that contains the suffix ide in their names, calcium carbide is not also associated in the production of calcium-based supplements. It is commonly used on modern industrial applications as well. Read on the preceding contents of this article and learn more about calcium carbide.

Chemical Compound Reaction

Bearing the chemical formula CaC2, calcium carbide is produced through the process of electrostatic discharge by means of mixing carbon and lime at high temperature. When reacted with water, it produces acetylene. Such reaction is the principle behind the production of dissolved acetylene which is the only modern industrial use of calcium carbide.

Application

The most common application of calcium carbide is on so-called carbide lamps (also known as acetylene lamps) wherein it uses acetylene gas which is produced by means of combining the chemical compound and water. Such lamps were formerly used in mines.

Calcium carbide in this application takes the form of small pellets or chunks that is placed on the lower chamber of the lamp. Its upper chamber is filled with another reactant, which is water. There is a screw valve or similar mechanism which controls the drip rate of water to the lower chamber where the calcium carbide is stored. Such water drip rate control results to the production of acetylene gas. It results in control of the size of the flame as well as the quantity of light that it produces.

The reaction of water with calcium carbide generates enough quantity of heat apart from the flame. In cold cave conditions, the heat can be used to save someone from hypothermia.

After the entire quantity of calcium carbide is reacted with water, the lower chamber contains now a wet paste of calcium hydroxide or caustic lime which is emptied in order to be refilled for the next usage. The caustic lime is toxic on humans and animals and must be deposited on a place wherein no one will be affected.

The next application of calcium carbide is the flare which is a type of pyrotechnic that emits a brilliant light as well as intense heat without the occurrence of an explosion. It is commonly used as a signal and illumination (especially on small fishing boats) as well as defensive counter measures in military and civilian applications.

Calcium carbide is only handled within industrial production. Individuals who work with this chemical compound always take some precautionary measures to avoid any untoward incident that may happen due to mishandling of calcium carbide.