Calcium acetate

Calcium acetate
Calcium acetate.svg
Ca-acetate.png
Calcium acetate crystals
Names
Preferred IUPAC name
Calcium diacetate
Other names
Acetate of lime
Calcium ethanoate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
Abbreviations Ca(OAc)2
3692527
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
DrugBank
ECHA InfoCard 100.000.492 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 269-613-0
E number E263 (preservatives)
22320
KEGG
RTECS number
  • AF7525000
UNII
  • InChI=1S/2C2H4O2.Ca/c2*1-2(3)4;/h2*1H3,(H,3,4);/q;;+2/p-2 checkY
    Key: VSGNNIFQASZAOI-UHFFFAOYSA-L checkY
  • InChI=1/2C2H4O2.Ca/c2*1-2(3)4;/h2*1H3,(H,3,4);/q;;+2/p-2
    Key: VSGNNIFQASZAOI-NUQVWONBAW
  • CC(=O)O[Ca]OC(=O)C
  • [Ca+2].[O-]C(=O)C.[O-]C(=O)C
Properties
C4H6CaO4
Molar mass 158.166 g·mol−1
Appearance White solid
hygroscopic
Odor slight acetic acid odor
Density 1.509 g/cm3
Melting point 160 °C (320 °F; 433 K) decomposition to CaCO3 + acetone
37.4 g/100 mL (0 °C)
34.7 g/100 mL (20 °C)
29.7 g/100 mL (100 °C)
Solubility slightly soluble in methanol, hydrazine
insoluble in acetone, ethanol and benzene
Acidity (pKa) ca. 0.7
-70.7·10−6 cm3/mol
1.55
Pharmacology
V03AE07 (WHO)
Hazards
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
1
1
0
680 to 730 °C (1,256 to 1,346 °F; 953 to 1,003 K)
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
4280 mg/kg (oral, rat)
Related compounds
Other cations
Magnesium acetate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
☒N verify (what is checkY☒N ?)
Infobox references

Calcium acetate is a chemical compound which is a calcium salt of acetic acid. It has the formula Ca(C2H3O2)2. Its standard name is calcium acetate, while calcium ethanoate is the systematic name. An older name is acetate of lime. The anhydrous form is very hygroscopic; therefore the monohydrate (Ca(CH3COO)2•H2O) is the common form.

Production

Calcium acetate can be prepared by soaking calcium carbonate (found in eggshells, or in common carbonate rocks such as limestone or marble) or hydrated lime in vinegar:

CaCO3(s) + 2CH3COOH(aq) → Ca(CH3COO)2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Ca(OH)2(s) + 2CH3COOH(aq) → Ca(CH3COO)2(aq) + 2H2O(l)

Since both reagents would have been available pre-historically, the chemical would have been observable as crystals then.

Uses

  • In kidney disease, blood levels of phosphate may rise (called hyperphosphatemia) leading to bone problems. Calcium acetate binds phosphate in the diet to lower blood phosphate levels.
  • Calcium acetate is used as a food additive, as a stabilizer, buffer and sequestrant, mainly in candy products under the number E263.
  • Tofu is traditionally obtained by coagulating soy milk with calcium sulfate. Calcium acetate has been found to be a better alternative; being soluble, it requires less skill and a smaller amount.
  • Because it is inexpensive, calcium acetate was once a common starting material for the synthesis of acetone before the development of the cumene process:
Ca(CH3COO)2 → CaCO3(s) + (CH3)2CO
  • A saturated solution of calcium acetate in alcohol forms a semisolid, flammable gel that is much like "canned heat" products such as Sterno. Chemistry teachers often prepare "California Snowballs", a mixture of calcium acetate solution and ethanol. The resulting gel is whitish in color, and can be formed to resemble a snowball.

Natural occurrence

Pure calcium acetate is yet unknown among minerals. Calclacitecalcium acetate chloride pentahydrateis listed as a known mineral, but its genesis is likely anthropogenic (human-generated, as opposed to naturally occurring) and it may soon be discredited.


This page was last updated at 2023-05-18 18:55 UTC. Update now. View original page.

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