Calcium hydroxide, traditionally called slaked lime, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca(OH)2. It is a colorless crystal or white powder and is obtained when calcium oxide (called lime or quicklime) is mixed, or "slaked" with water. It has many names including hydrated lime, builders' lime, slack lime, Choona (word used in India, Pakistan and Afghanistan), cal, or pickling lime. Calcium hydroxide is used in many applications, including food preparation. Limewater is the common name for a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide.
When heated to 512 °C, the partial pressure of water in equilibrium with calcium hydroxide reaches 101 kPa, which decomposes calcium hydroxide into calcium oxide and water.
Ca(OH)2 → CaO + H2O
A suspension of fine calcium hydroxide particles in water is called milk of lime. The solution is called limewater and is a medium strength base that reacts with acids and attacks many metals. Limewater turns milky in the presence of carbon dioxide due to formation of calcium carbonate, a process called carbonatation:
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O
One significant application of calcium hydroxide is as a flocculant, in water and sewage treatment. It forms a fluffy charged solid that aids in the removal of smaller particles from water, resulting in a clearer product. This application is enabled by the low cost and low toxicity of calcium hydroxide. It is also used in fresh water treatment for raising the pH of the water so pipes will not corrode where the base water is acidic because it is self-regulating and does not raise the pH too much.
Another large application is in the paper industry, where it is used in the production of sodium hydroxide. This conversion is a component of the Kraft process.
Niche uses
Because it is produced on a large scale, is easily handled, and is cheap, myriad niche and even large-scale applications have been described. A partial listing follows:
In life support systems as a carbon dioxide scrubber, particularly in closed-circuit diving re-breathers such as the US Navy LAR V or MK-16, where the more caustic lithium hydroxide is deemed too risky due to inhaled dust, combat handling, or generation of caustic "slurry" in flooding events
An ingredient in whitewash, mortar, and plaster
In road construction, to improve the quality of excessively plastic subgrade soils
To fill the root canal for the first stage of endodontic therapy (it is then replaced by rubber)
As an additive to sea water to reduce atmospheric CO2 and mitigate the greenhouse effect
In the production of metals, lime is injected into the waste gas stream to neutralize acids, such as fluorides and chlorides prior to being released to atmosphere.
An alkali used as a lye substitute in no-lye hair relaxers
A chemical depilatory agent found in most hair removal creams (for example Nair)
In Bordeaux mixture to neutralize the solution and form a long-lasting fungicide
In lime-sulfur, it is mixed with sulfur and boiled in water for an hour. The ratio by weight of Ca(OH)2:S:water is about 1:1.7:8.7. Diluted (1:32) lime-sulfur is sprayed as a fungicide and used as a dip to combat sarcoptic mange.
In the petroleum refining industry for the manufacture of additives to oils (salicatic, sulphatic, fenatic)
In the chemical industry for manufacture of calcium stearate In the petrochemical industry for manufacturing solid oil of various marks
In the manufacture of brake pads
In manufacturing the trademarked compound "Polikar", an antifungal and antimicrobial preservative for vegetables in storage
For preparation of dry mixes for painting and decorating
In manufacturing mixes for pesticides
In the manufacture of ebonite
As a calcium supplement and pH/carbonate buffer (known as Kalkwasser lit. trans. lime-water) for the aquaculture of corals in reef aquaria.
As a natural "alternative" insecticide, most crawling insects are killed by its touch, including ticks, fleas, beetles and grubs.
Food industry
Because of its low toxicity and the mildness of its basic properties, slaked lime is widely used in the food industry to:
to clarify raw juice from sugarcane or sugar beets in the sugar industry, (see carbonatation)
process water for alcoholic beverages and soft drinks
pickle cucumbers and other foods
make Chinese century eggs
make corn tortillas (it helps the corn flour (masa) bind together) (see nixtamalization)
clear a brine of carbonates of calcium and magnesium in the manufacture of salt for food and pharmaceutical uses
fortify (Ca supplement) fruit drinks, such as orange juice, and infant formula
aid digestion (used in India as paan, a mixture of areca nuts, calcium hydroxide and a variety of seeds wrapped in betel leaves)
substitute for baking soda in making papadam.
In Spanish, calcium hydroxide is called cal. Corn cooked with cal (nixtamalization) becomes hominy (nixtamal), which significantly increases the bioavailability of niacin, and it is also considered tastier and easier to digest.
In chewing areca nut or coca leaves, calcium hydroxide is usually chewed alongside to keep the alkaloid stimulants chemically available for absorption by the body. Similarly, Native Americans traditionally chewed tobacco leaves with calcium hydroxide derived from burnt shells to enhance the effects. It has also been used by some indigenous American tribes as an ingredient in yopo, a psychedelic snuff prepared from the beans of some Anadenanthera species.
Afghan uses
It is used in making naswar (also known as nass or niswar), a type of dipping tobacco made from fresh tobacco leaves, calcium hydroxide (chuna), and wood ash. It is consumed most in the Pathan diaspora, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and also in Sweden, Norway. Villagers also use calcium hydroxide as a paint on to their mud houses in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Ancient Celtic use
According to Diodorus Siculus:
"The Gauls are tall of body with rippling muscles and white of skin and their hair is blond, and not only naturally so for they also make it their practice by artificial means to increase the distinguishing colour which nature has given it. For they are always washing their hair in limewater and they pull it back from the forehead to the nape of the neck, with the result that their appearance is like that of Satyrs and Pans since the treatment of their hair makes it so heavy and coarse that it differs in no respect from the mane of horses