Calcium oxide is also known as quicklime. It is a white solid that can easily be ground into powder. It is a very refractory solid which can be attributed to its ability to withstand very high temperatures. It just merely becomes incandescent when heated strongly, emitting an intensely bright light, which is known as limelight. Calcium oxide melts at 2600C.
Calcium oxide is very hygroscopic and is used to dry ammonia gas. When water is added in drops to the oxide, it cracks with a hissing noise and breaks up into a powdery form accompanied by the liberation of heat. This process is known as slaking, and the end-point is calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2, which is more commonly known as slaked lime.
Calcium oxide is used in the manufacture of slaked lime, mortar, cement and calcium carbide.Calcium oxide is used to make refractory furnace linings, in melting processes and in glass-making.In Industry, lime is used to neutralize acidic waste substances.
The treated waste can then be emptied into natural waterways without harming aquatic life.In agriculture, lime is used to treat acidic soils. If the pH of the soil is too low, most soil bacteria and other soil microflora would not survive or function properly in enhancing soil fertility. Lime which is a cheap base, is used to reduce soil acidity.In the laboratory, calcium oxide is used for drying ammonia gas and for making soda-lime, which is made by slaking calcium oxide with concentrated sodium hydroxide.
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