Calcium chloride is typically prepared through the neutralization of hydrochloric acid with calcium hydroxide.
Calcium chloride ($\text{CaCl}_2$) is a common inorganic salt known for being a white crystalline solid that readily dissolves in water. As stated in the provided reference, one of the primary methods for its creation involves a chemical reaction between two specific compounds:
Preparation Method: Neutralization Reaction
The most straightforward method for preparing calcium chloride, as described, is by bringing together hydrochloric acid ($\text{HCl}$) and calcium hydroxide ($\text{Ca(OH)}_2$). This is an acid-base neutralization reaction where the acid reacts with the base to produce a salt and water.
The chemical equation representing this preparation is:
$\text{Ca(OH)}_2 \text{ (aq)} + 2\text{HCl (aq)} \rightarrow \text{CaCl}_2 \text{ (aq)} + 2\text{H}_2\text{O (l)}$
Let's break down the components:
- Calcium Hydroxide ($\text{Ca(OH)}_2$): This acts as the base in the reaction.
- Hydrochloric Acid ($\text{HCl}$): This acts as the acid.
- Calcium Chloride ($\text{CaCl}_2$): This is the salt product.
- Water ($\text{H}_2\text{O}$): This is the other product of the neutralization.
The reaction is typically carried out in an aqueous solution. After the reaction is complete, the water can be evaporated to obtain the solid calcium chloride.
Reaction Summary
| Reactants | Products |
|---|---|
| Calcium Hydroxide | Calcium Chloride |
| Hydrochloric Acid | Water |
This neutralization process effectively combines calcium ions ($\text{Ca}^{2+}$) from calcium hydroxide and chloride ions ($\text{Cl}^-$) from hydrochloric acid to form calcium chloride, while the hydrogen ions ($\text{H}^+$) from the acid and hydroxide ions ($\text{OH}^-$) from the base combine to form water.
