Calcination
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Calcination is the thermal treatment of a solid chemical compound, like carbonates, where said compound is heated to high temperature without melting, under restricted supply of ambient oxygen (i.e. gaseous O2 fraction of air), generally for the purpose of removing impurities or volatile substances and/or to incur thermal decomposition.
The root of the word "calcination" refers to its most prominent use, which is to remove carbon from limestone (calcium carbonate) through combustion to yield calcium oxide aka quicklime, the reaction being the following:
- CaCO3(s) → CaO(s) + CO2(g).
Calcium oxide is a crucial ingredient in modern cement, and is also used as a chemical flux in smelting.
Other alkali earth metal carbonates, like strontium or barium carbonate can be turned into their respective oxides through calcination.
Sulfates can also be calcinated at high temperatures, releasing sulfur oxides.
Calcination can also be used to produce certain chemical compounds. Minium aka red lead, can be produced by calcinating lead(II) oxide in air at high temperatures.
