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Calcium Chloride Information

Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is a chemical compound formed by calcium and chloride produced in huge quantities every year to meet its consumption from limestone commercially. Calcium chloride has a wide applicability in industry, food as well in medical sciences using its physical and chemical properties.

  1. Properties

    • Calcium chloride is a white solid, lumpy, amorphous chemical compound. It is highly water soluble and has hygroscopic property (i.e., absorbing water and moisture), and therefore, this property of the compound is used in many industrial procedures, such as drying of gases. Calcium chloride is stable under normal conditions of use and storage and has boiling and melting temperature of more than 1600 and 772 degrees Celcius respectively. Calcium chloride can be separated into metal calcium and chlorine gas by special procedures.

    Industrial Applications

    • Calcium chloride is used in petroleum industry in various procedures. In mining industry, it is applied for dust proofing. Calcium chloride also finds application in paper manufacturing industry. The use of calcium is a standard procedure for treating waste water.

    Use in Construction Industry

    • Calcium chloride is used in road stabilization procedures such as dust laying and snow and ice control during highway maintenance. Calcium chloride is an important constituent in cement manufacturing. It is also used as an additive in concrete to increase its strength and early solidification.

    Use in Food Industry

    • Calcium chloride has wide range of usage in food industry as well as in sports and energy drinks as an electrolyte. It plays a role as an additive and affirming agent in food industry. Calcium finds application in beer brewing, brining and cheese manufacturing. It is also used as a preservative and stabilizing agent in many food manufacturing processes.

    Medicinal Applications

    • Calcium chloride is also used in medicine for treating many medical conditions. In pharmaceuticals, it comes under various forms (not in solid and flaky forms such as in industrial processes), such as injection. Calcium chloride supplements are used for treating hypocalcaemia (low serum calcium levels). It can help with black widow spider bites and insect bites and to treat calcium channel blocker drugs toxicity. Calcium chloride decreases the adverse effects due to the excess of many drugs. It is also used in genetic engineering procedures as it increases membrane permeability.

    Heath Hazards

    • Inhalation of calcium chloride can cause irritation of respiratory tract resulting in sore throats, cough, ingestion may result in gastrointestinal upset like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. Contact with skin may cause irritation, itching sensations and redness of skin. If exposure occurs to eyes may result in burning sensation and redness of eyes.

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