- Quicklime is spread over dead fish to reduce the stench.
- Quicklime, composed of calcium (Ca) and oxygen (O), is a white or greyish-white solid. It is produced by roasting calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) to drive off carbon dioxide (CO₂).
- It absorbs CO₂ from the air at room temperature, reversing its formation process.
- It reacts with water to form calcium hydroxide (Ca (OH)₂) and releases heat, causing bubbling—hence the name quick or living lime.
- It is used in portable heat sources due to its exothermic reaction with water.
- In steelmaking, quicklime is added to molten iron, where it reacts with impurities in the iron to form slag, which can be easily removed, thus helping to improve the purity of the steel.
- Calcium oxide is used with calcium hydroxide in treating water to make it safe for drinking.
- Quicklime remains a versatile and widely used compound in various industrial applications.
Dig Deeper: Read about the chemicals that are used in the rapid decomposition of chemical wastes.
