1659. Calcium Chloride

Nomenclature

CAS number: 10043-52-4
Calcium chloride (CaCl2); Intergravin-orales (Werfft-Chemie).
CaCl2; mol wt 110.98.
Ca 36.11%, Cl 63.89%.

Description and references

Forms mono-, di-, tetra- and hexahydrates. Obtained as a byproduct of the ammonia-soda (Solvay) process and as a joint product from natural salt brines: Faith, Keyes & Clark's Industrial Chemicals, F. A. Lowenheim, M. K. Moran, Eds. (Wiley-Interscience, New York, 4th ed., 1975) pp 186-190. Crystal structure of dihydrate: A. Leclaire, M. M. Borel, Acta Crystallogr. B33, 1608 (1977). Acute toxicity: I. B. Syed, F. Hosain, Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 22, 150 (1972).

Properties

Cubic crystals, granules or fused masses. Very hygroscopic. mp 772°. bp >1600°; d415 2.152. Freely sol in water (with liberation of much heat), alcohol. The commercial product is about 94-97% CaCl2, the chief impurity being Ca(OH)2. Keep well closed. LD50 i.v. in mice: 42.2 mg/kg (Syed, Hosain).

Derivative

Dihydrate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 10035-04-8
CaCl2.2H2O; mol wt 147.01.
Ca 27.26%, Cl 48.23%, H 2.74%, O 21.77%.

Properties

Hygroscopic granules, flakes or powder. d 1.86. Freely sol in water, alcohol. Commercial grades contain 73-80% CaCl2. Keep well closed.

Derivative

Hexahydrate.

Nomenclature

CAS number: 7774-34-7
CaCl2.6H2O; mol wt 219.08.
Ca 18.29%, Cl 32.37%, H 5.52%, O 43.82%.

Properties

Deliquesc trigonal crystals. mp 30°. d17 1.68. Loses all H2O at 200°. Extremely sol in water, alcohol. Keep well closed.

Use

The anhydrous form used as a drying and dehydrating agent for organic liquids and gases, and in desiccators. The dihydrate and hexahydrate forms are used for antifreeze and refrigerating solns, in fire extinguishers, etc. (a 40% soln freezes at -41°); to preserve wood, stone; manuf ice, glues, cements; fireproofing fabrics; automobile antifreeze mixtures; to melt ice and snow; as coagulant in rubber manuf, as size in admixture with starch paste; in concrete mixes to give quicker initial set and greater strength; freezeproofing of coal and ores; dust control on unpaved roads; sizing and finishing cotton fabrics; as brine for filling inflatable tires on tractors to increase traction.

Therapeutic Category

Electrolyte replacement. Has been used as diuretic, urinary acidifier, antiallergic.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

May be used intravenously in hypocalcemic states such as milk fever.

Keywords

Replenishers/Supplements; Electrolyte