Properties of Calcium Chloride and mixing with water...

nanomania

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Calcium chloride is a chemical compound made up of calcium and chlorine. It contains two atoms of chlorine and one atom of calcium. Thus its chemical formula is CaCl2. It is also known as a common salt, as referred to in chemistry. Calcium chloride can be prepared by various methods. When calcium carbonate or calcium oxide is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, calcium chloride is produced. Calcium chloride is obtained on a large scale as a byproduct of the Solvay process or the ammonia-soda process. In this process, when calcium carbonate reacts with sodium chloride, sodium carbonate and calcium chloride are formed. If we are aware of the basic physical and chemical properties of calcium chloride, we can utilize this chemical substance more effectively. Some important points are given below:

*Physical Properties of Calcium Chloride

Physical state: Calcium chloride can be found in solid state at room temperature, and is available as flakes, granules and powdered form.

Taste: Calcium chloride is salty to taste. Hence, it is added to many food products like canned vegetables, pickles etc.

Color: In solid form, calcium chloride is white in color, while in liquidated form, it is colorless.
Electrical conductivity: Usually in a molten state, it is a good conductor of electricity.

Thermal conductivity: Calcium chloride is a bad conductor of heat.
Boiling point: Its boiling point is as high as 1600oC.

Solubility: It is soluble both in inorganic solvents like water, as well as organic solvents like ethanol.

Hygroscopy: It is hygroscopic in nature and absorbs moisture from air. If exposed to open air, it tends to become liquid. That is why, it is often called a deliquescent substance.

Melting point: It has a low melting point, which means it can be dissolved at a very low temperature.

*Chemical Properties of Calcium Chloride

Exothermic: Calcium chloride is exothermic in nature, that is, it releases heat during any chemical reactions.

Reaction with water: When calcium chloride is exposed to water, a large amount of heat is liberated, which can cause sputtering and boiling. The end product of this reaction is calcium hydroxide and chlorine gas.

Reaction with sulfuric acid: When it comes in contact with sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid is formed, which is highly caustic in nature.

Reaction with metals: Calcium chloride is a non-inflammable substance. However, when it comes in contact with metals like zinc or sodium, it produces hydrogen, which is highly inflammable. For this reason, we should ensure that calcium chloride is kept away from these metals. We should also avoid storage of calcium chloride in containers made of any of these substances.

Despite being a valuable chemical substance, calcium chloride has some harmful side effects. It can cause mild to severe itching when it comes in contact with our skin. So, one should handle it carefully.
 
In the point "Reaction with water", it says it produces heat and the bi product is calcium hydroxide. Well does that mean it turns into Kalk.?
 
Well, I'd have to see the actual equations, or work them out, but I think that's correct. This reaction isn't going to happen with the chemicals we use, in the way we use them, though.
 
mine is lab grade..... they have already turned into stones... i guess i add ice in water, then try dissolving. 500gms in 1gal water. will be adding slowly and will have to keep stirring....
 
already made, dint get that hot yes but it is still a bit milky and has some dust at the bottom. will let it settle for a few hrs or may be 24hrs. made mag chl/sul too.
 
Calcium chloride is a chemical compound made up of calcium and chlorine. It contains two atoms of chlorine and one atom of calcium. Thus its chemical formula is CaCl2. It is also known as a common salt, as referred to in chemistry. Calcium chloride can be prepared by various methods. When calcium carbonate or calcium oxide is dissolved in hydrochloric acid, calcium chloride is produced. Calcium chloride is obtained on a large scale as a byproduct of the Solvay process or the ammonia-soda process. In this process, when calcium carbonate reacts with sodium chloride, sodium carbonate and calcium chloride are formed. If we are aware of the basic physical and chemical properties of calcium chloride, we can utilize this chemical substance more effectively. Some important points are given below:

*Physical Properties of Calcium Chloride

Physical state: Calcium chloride can be found in solid state at room temperature, and is available as flakes, granules and powdered form.

Taste: Calcium chloride is salty to taste. Hence, it is added to many food products like canned vegetables, pickles etc.

Color: In solid form, calcium chloride is white in color, while in liquidated form, it is colorless.

I think you meant dissolved and not liquidated. It really doesn't matter if you sell it off.

Electrical conductivity: Usually in a molten state, it is a good conductor of electricity.

When dissolved in water it significantly raises the conductivity of the solution. I am unaware of its conductivity when molten.


Thermal conductivity: Calcium chloride is a bad conductor of heat.
Boiling point: Its boiling point is as high as 1600oC.


Solubility: It is soluble both in inorganic solvents like water, as well as organic solvents like ethanol.

The word polar should be in there. Inorganic or organic has nothing to do with it. Calcium chloride is soluble in polar solvents like water or ethanol. Caclium chloride is not soluble in non-polar solvents like chloroform or hexane.


Hygroscopy: It is hygroscopic in nature and absorbs moisture from air. If exposed to open air, it tends to become liquid. That is why, it is often called a deliquescent substance.


Close enough. It's not just called deliquescent, it IS deliquescent by definition.


Melting point: It has a low melting point, which means it can be dissolved at a very low temperature.

Melting point has absolutely no bearing on solubility. Calcium Chloride can be dissolved at low temperatures due to the large negative reaction enthalpy of the dissolution reaction.

The melting point is severely depressed at higher hydration numbers. I think the anhydrous salt melts above 700C. I wouldn't exactly call that low melting.


*Chemical Properties of Calcium Chloride

Exothermic: Calcium chloride is exothermic in nature, that is, it releases heat during any chemical reactions.

Certain reactions can be exothermic or endothermic. A substance cannot be. For example, you list the boiling point of calcium chloride above. That would be an endothermic process requiring significant enthalpy of vaporization.

Reaction with water: When calcium chloride is exposed to water, a large amount of heat is liberated, which can cause sputtering and boiling. The end product of this reaction is calcium hydroxide and chlorine gas.

You mean when it is dissolved in water. I have never seen it lead to boiling. I'm not sure that's possible but we can do the calculation if you'd like.

You've got your end products wrong. Calcium hydroxide is mostly insoluble, if it were a reaction product on dissolution then we would all see significant precipitation when we make our two part. There is also no chlorine gas evolved from that reaction, else we would die when we make our two part. Making chlorine gas from chloride requires removing electrons from chloride. That generally doesn't happen spontaneously. The redox potential for chlorine is pretty darn high and positive.


The real reaction products on dissolution are free calcium and chloride ions.

CaCl<sub>2</sub> ---> Ca<sup>+</sup> + 2 Cl<sup>-</sup>


Reaction with sulfuric acid: When it comes in contact with sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid is formed, which is highly caustic in nature.


And the sulfuric wasn't? The reaction of calcium chloride with sulfuric acid leads to insoluble calcium sulfate and leaves behind a hydrochloric acid solution equal in Normality to the sulfuric acid solution you started with. The actual amount of acid doesn't change.


Reaction with metals: Calcium chloride is a non-inflammable substance. However, when it comes in contact with metals like zinc or sodium, it produces hydrogen, which is highly inflammable. For this reason, we should ensure that calcium chloride is kept away from these metals. We should also avoid storage of calcium chloride in containers made of any of these substances.


CaCl2 + Zn(s) -> H2(g)
?????????
Where does the hydrogen come from?

The reaction with zinc would be with an acid, not a chloride salt. Salty solutions will to some extent corrode zinc, but the reaction is only facilitated by the salt. The actual reaction is with the water. More correctly, it is with the acid that comes from the autoionization of water. The amount of hydrogen evolved in those reactions is incredibly tiny and is not an explosion risk. The reaction with an acid would be a different matter entirely and is often used as a convenient method for producing hydrogen gas.



Sodium on the other hand will react vigorously with water alone. No acid needed, nor calcium nor chloride. Molten sodium (and perhaps solid too I'm not sure) would react with solid calcium chloride to yield calcium metal and sodium chloride, but without water there would certainly be no hydrogen gas.

Despite being a valuable chemical substance, calcium chloride has some harmful side effects. It can cause mild to severe itching when it comes in contact with our skin. So, one should handle it carefully.
 
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