Sciencemadness Discussion Board

CaCl2

sathor - 8-2-2005 at 13:37

hi, i can't find CaCl2 at any shop, and i'm interested in it and i haven't found anything about its synthesis is it possible to synthetise it at home????
Thanx

budullewraagh - 8-2-2005 at 13:52

clean some shells and react them with HCl cleaner, then boil the solution until your CaCl2 precipitates

runlabrun - 8-2-2005 at 14:38

CaCl2 is very common, strange you cant find it....
Damp-rid is a common brand, or any other powder crap that is designed to absorb moisture from the air is usually Calcium chloride.... check the boxes.

Otherwise to make CaCl2 would be a waste of metallic calcium, but as mentioned using shells wouldnt be a bad idea....
The inner layer of shells is usually mainly calcium carbonate so the mentioned method would work... Give it a go...
CaCO3 + 2HCl --> H2O + CO2 + CaCl2

Hope you have some luck.
-rlr

Magpie - 8-2-2005 at 16:34

You could also react hydrated lime [Ca(OH)2] with muriatic acid:

2HCl + Ca(OH)2 --> CaCl2 + 2H2O

I purchased hydrated lime for $0.60/lb at my local farm feed store (bring your own container).

Wasn't CaCL2 being used as a highway deicer for awhile?

[Edited on 9-2-2005 by Magpie]

[Edited on 9-2-2005 by Magpie]

neutrino - 8-2-2005 at 17:19

It still is.

Mumbles - 8-2-2005 at 19:36

There is a brand of ice pellet by prestone that is nearly pure CaCl2. There is a thing coating of Ca(OH)2 on the outside to keep it from becoming a giant slurry of desicating goodness.

tom haggen - 8-2-2005 at 20:59

Man I feel bad for you. I wish I could buy phosphorus chlorides, elemental ceasium, barium nitrate, strontium nitrate, mercury nitrate, 100% clear HNO3, calcium carbide, safrole, diethylamine, ergotamine, sodium azide, nitrite salts, U235, acetic anhydride, hydrazine, antimony, and so much more,

If I couldn't get good ol easy to buy CaCl2
I would be depressed.:(

EDIT: post 357 magnum bizzle! Can you say Dirty Harry?:P

[Edited on 9-2-2005 by tom haggen]

Esplosivo - 8-2-2005 at 22:53

Might seem strange but where I live there's no CaCl2 available OTC, but it is so easily made. And why didn't anybody mention good old marble for this! White marble (CaCO3) will contain little impurities, and is widely available. Simply react it with HCl and boil the mess. This CaCl2 will serve most uses, mainly as a dessicant. If you want further purity I'd go for the shells :P (If I were you I would buy the thing at a chem supplier instead of going around picking shells - its relatively cheap and pure, more than you probably want it to be );)

Theoretic - 12-2-2005 at 14:04

Simply boiling won't make a good dessicant, the hexahydrate CaCl2*6H2O isn't very good, although even concentrated CaCl2 solution is used as a dessicant the hexahydrate won't be too powerful. Heat it strongly to get it anhydrous. Anhydroyus calcium chloride is one hell-like dessicant! :)

Magpie - 12-2-2005 at 15:26

I just bought 5 lbs of "Guardex" "calcium hardness increaser" for swimming pools for $7. The label says 100% CaCl2.

I also picked up 2.5 lbs of "Leisure Time" "pH Down" for spas for $4.50. The label says 95% NaHSO4 + 5% inert ingredients. I just love shopping for lab supplies. Especially when I intend to use it for a use it was not intended for. :D

guy - 18-2-2005 at 23:11

Anhydrous Calcium chloride is sold in tropical fish stores for increasing calcium levels in water. They also have calcium hydroxide which they call kalkwasser

darkflame89 - 19-2-2005 at 00:26

Not only that, Calcium chloride anhydrous is sold in the home dessicators, at least down here in Singapore were the weather is humid.

You can always make some by dissolving chalk or egg shells in hydrochloric acid.

chloric1 - 19-2-2005 at 08:48

Quote:
I just love shopping for lab supplies. Especially when I intend to use it for a use it was not intended for. :D


Magpie you might want to take a closer look at aquarium supplies. I have seen activated charcoal of coarse but also zeolite! This may be useful for ioin exchenge. If not, surely a catalyst support.

Magpie - 19-2-2005 at 20:44

I'll remember that chloric1. I have checked the aquarium places and found a nice 2 gpm pump for around $20. This would probably work fine for cooling water recirculation should I not want to use my water supply/sink. I have also seen the zeolite at a Koi shop. I guess a Koi pond is an aquarium on an industrial scale.

I got the best deal on some activated carbon at a health foods store.

It really is surprising where you find some chemicals. I've got an order in for a lb of sodium benzoate from a Mom & Pop that sells it for use in preserving carp bait. :o

neutrino - 20-2-2005 at 06:21

Was the carbon sold as anything in particular or just ‘activated carbon’?

cyclonite4 - 20-2-2005 at 06:30

The activated carbon I buy from the aquarium store is sold as 'filter carbon'.

Magpie - 20-2-2005 at 11:54

Neutrino: "activated charcoal powder" for $25/lb.

Twospoons - 20-2-2005 at 16:38

Have you checked under the common name "chloride of lime" ?

cyclonite4 - 20-2-2005 at 18:19

I get my activated carbon at $14/kg, similar price to Magpie.

EDIT: WOOHOO!! 200th post-iversary

[Edited on 21-2-2005 by cyclonite4]

Magpie - 20-2-2005 at 20:16

cyclonite-4: Your price is much better - 1 kg = 2.2 lb. :P But mine is food grade - whether that is better or not I have no idea. I haven't even looked at it yet. But the clerk said it was very difficult to repackage as it is so fine. I took that as a good sign.

chloric1 - 21-2-2005 at 09:38

Quote:
Originally posted by Magpie
I'll remember that chloric1. I have checked the aquarium places and found a nice 2 gpm pump for around $20. This would probably work fine for cooling water recirculation should I not want to use my water supply/sink. I have also seen the zeolite at a Koi shop. I guess a Koi pond is an aquarium on an industrial scale.

I got the best deal on some activated carbon at a health foods store.

It really is surprising where you find some chemicals. I've got an order in for a lb of sodium benzoate from a Mom & Pop that sells it for use in preserving carp bait. :o



HAHAHA!:D:D The sodium benzoate story is just too sweet! I like that one. Oh i have tried the "Little Giant pumps" and they work quite nicely for ruuning water through your condensor. I would use mine but I actually own property now and I got a good deal on a goose neck faucet with a serrated nozzle. I put all the seals in last December and hooked it up to my spigot and it works good! And the force of the water!:o:o All that is left is to put the legs on the laundry sink its attached too and get some rubber hose and tiewraps and I got fully functional laboratory sink!

P.S I didn't realize I had 200 posts! Woohoo!:D:P

[Edited on 2/21/2005 by chloric1]