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Carbonates

Manufacture of calcium oxide (lime)

Calcium carbonate (limestone) decomposes into calcium oxide (lime) and carbon dioxide with heat. 

Water can be added to calcium oxide to form calcium hydroxide (slaked lime). 

Note that an aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide is limewater. This goes milky in the presence of carbon dioxide. 

 

Uses of calcium compounds 

Calcium oxide (lime) and calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) are both used to treat acidic soils and neutralize acidic wastes. 

Calcium carbonate has many uses: 

  • Manufacture of cement 
  • Manufacture f glasses 
  • In blast furnace and in steel making to remove silicon (IV) oxide as slag 
  • To neutralize acidic soils and lakes caused by acid rain