Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chemical compound with the formula Ca(OH)₂: A white, powdery, slightly soluble inorganic base produced by reacting calcium oxide (quicklime) with water. It is also known as slaked lime or hydrated lime.

Usage

• As a common noun: "Calcium hydroxide" is used to refer to the specific chemical substance itself.
• In industrial, construction, and chemical contexts: The term is used precisely to denote this compound in processes like water treatment, mortar preparation, and chemical synthesis.

Examples

• Noun:
  • The mason added calcium hydroxide to the sand to make traditional lime mortar.
  • Calcium hydroxide is used in the food industry to process corn for tortillas.
  • A saturated solution of calcium hydroxide in water is called limewater.

Advanced Usage

• "Slaked lime": A common synonym for calcium hydroxide, emphasizing its production process.
  • Farmers often use slaked lime to reduce soil acidity.
• In chemical equations: Represented by its formula, Ca(OH)₂.
  • The reaction CaO + H₂O → Ca(OH)₂ is highly exothermic.

Variants and Related Words

• Lime (noun): A broad term that can refer to calcium oxide (quicklime), calcium hydroxide (slaked/hydrated lime), or even calcium carbonate in agricultural contexts. Requires careful attention to context.
• Hydrated lime (noun): Another synonym for calcium hydroxide.
• Limewater (noun): A dilute aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide.

Synonyms

• Slaked lime
• Hydrated lime
• Pickling lime (when used in food preservation)
• Caustic lime (archaic)

Related Phrases

• Lime slurry: A suspension of calcium hydroxide in water.
  • The water treatment plant uses a lime slurry to adjust pH.
• Lime mortar: A building material made from calcium hydroxide, sand, and water.
  • The restoration of the historic building required authentic lime mortar.

Noun

1. a caustic substance produced by heating limestone