Properties of Calcium Oxide

Calcium oxide has been known since prehistoric times. The Roman writer Cato the Elder (234 – 149 BC) documented one way of manufacturing the compound in 184 BC. By the early fifteenth century, many Europeans were employing calcium oxide (usually referred to as lime) in the construction of structures. The Scottish scientist Joseph Black (1728–1799) performed some of the early scientific research of calcium oxide. He observed that when the chemical is exposed to air, it reacts with carbon dioxide to generate calcium carbonate. 

Calcium oxide is a chemical substance that possesses colorless, odorless qualities and was employed since the early ages.

The formula for calcium oxide is CaO. It is an amorphous substance that is in a crystalline or powdered solid state. Calcium oxide is sometimes termed quick lime, caustic lime or burnt lime. In its pure state, calcium oxide is white or off gray in hue. On the other hand, it is yellow or brownish in color in the presence of impurities, such as iron, magnesia, silica or alumina. Calcium oxide also exists in the color reds and subdued browns. 

Preparationof CaO

The main fundamental ingredients which make calcium oxide are calcium and oxygen. 

It is made by heating calcium carbonate (e.g. limestone) in a specialized lime kiln to around 500°C to 600°C, decomposing it into the oxide and carbon dioxide. 

This process of obtaining burnt lime is termed calcification. It starts with degrading the natural components at high temperatures while preserving they do not approach the melting point. 

This process is done by heating them at temperatures ranging from 1070 degrees Celsius to 1270 degrees celsius. CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂ 

Uses of cao in daily life

Calcium oxide is utilized in companies that create porcelain and glass.

 It is also used for purifying sugar, in making bleaching powder, calcium carbide, and calcium cyanamide. Its additional uses are in water softeners, mortars, and cement.

 Calcium oxide (CaO), is often known as quicklime or burnt lime, it is a regularly utilized chemical component. It is solid at normal temperature. 

The extensively used word lime means calcium-containing inorganic compounds, in which oxides and hydroxides of calcium, magnesium, aluminum, silicon, and iron are present. 

By contrast, quicklime exactly pertains to the single chemical component calcium oxide. But commercial lime frequently contains contaminants. 

Calcium oxide is also commonly used in pharmaceuticals and pesticides. 

Due to alkali being available in reasonable proportions, calcium oxide is one of the essential elements in manufacturing caustic soda.

 It is also used in the making of steel, paper, and cement. 

The second most vital usage of calcium oxide is in pollution control devices. Smoke that ejects from every industry’s smokestack contains large levels of sulfur and nitrogen. When sulfur and nitrogen are mixed with water, it morphs into new compounds, such as nitric acid and sulphuric acid. To prevent such dangerous chemical compositions from getting in contact with nature, equipment called scrubbers are erected. These devices have big quantities of calcium oxide which help in neutralizing the excessive concentrations of sulphuric acid and nitric acid. 

Benefits Of Calcium In The Human Body 

Calcium is mostly needed for growing strong bones and sustaining good oral health. 99 percent of calcium is found in bones and teeth. It is vital for the growth, development, and maintenance of the body. Calcium also aids in maintaining the activity of the blood and ensuring its smooth flow in the complete body. The presence of appropriate calcium in the body leads to decreased blood pressure, high amounts of energy and supports effective renewal of the skin and bones. It also assists in muscle contraction and enhances cholesterol functioning.

 Interesting Facts about Calcium Oxide

 Calcium oxide is widely used to “lime” lake waters that have been acidified by acid rain; it reacts with them and neutralizes acids in the lake. It is also generated when nitric and sulphuric acid in acid rain is brought to earth by rain, sleet, snow, and other means of precipitation. 

When calcium oxide is heated towards its melting point, it gives off a bright white light. In the years before electricity was discovered for lighting, particularly during the second half of the 19th century it was employed as a spotlight source, heated lime was used to create the strong lights required to illuminate theatrical shows. Because it was supposed to increase the speed in the breakdown of soft tissue, quicklime has historically been employed in the funeral of ill animals and humans. For instance, the bodies of plague victims in London in 1666 were commanded to be buried in quicklime. 

Health Risk 

Contact with calcium oxide can cause harm to the skin, nose, eyes, and respiratory system. Those who use the product in their line of work or at home for (garden purposes) for example, people who are working must be exceedingly cautious not to breathe in, consume, or otherwise come into touch with the chemical. If such contact occurs, it should be wiped off entirely with water and called for medical treatment. 

Conclusion

This is all about calcium oxide and its qualities. Learn how it is employed in daily lives and modern industries. Understand its features and benefits effectively to strengthen your conceptual knowledge about this oxide.