General Description
White to off-white solid. Sinks and mixes with water.
Reactivity Profile
Bromine trifluoride rapidly attacks the following salts: barium chloride, cadmium chloride, calcium chloride, cesium chloride, lithium chloride, silver chloride, rubidium chloride, potassium bromide, potassium chloride, potassium iodide, rhodium tetrabromide, sodium bromide, sodium chloride, and sodium iodide [Mellor 2 Supp. 1:164, 165 1956]. Long term exposure of calcium chloride solution upon a zinc coated galvanized iron vessel caused slow evolution of hydrogen which ignited and exploded [Bretherick, 5th Ed., 1995].
Air & Water Reactions
Deliquescent. Water soluble. Adding CALCIUM CHLORIDE(10043-52-4) to hot water caused violent boiling, [MCA Case History No. 69].
Health Hazard
Inhalation causes irritation of nose and throat. Ingestion causes irritation of mouth and stomach. Contact with eyes (particularly by dust) causes irritation and possible transient corneal injury. Contact of solid with dry skin causes mild irritation; strong solutions can cause marked irritation, even a superficial burn.
Potential Exposure
Calcium chloride is used as road salt
for melting snow, a drying agent in desiccators, for dehydrating organic liquids and gases, in refrigeration brines
and antifreeze, as a dust-proofing agent, food additives,
concrete hardening accelerator, and others. May react with
strong oxidizers.
First aid
If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any
contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least
15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek
medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts
the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from
exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has
stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer
promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has
been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit
Shipping
There are no label or maximum shipping quantity requirements set by DOT.
Incompatibilities
The solution in water is a weak base.
Reacts with zinc in presence of moisture, forming highlyflammable hydrogen gas. Dissolves violently in water
with generation of much heat. Incompatible with water,
bromine trifluoride; 2-furan, percarboxylic acid. May
attack some building materials and metals in the presence
of moisture.
Description
Tumorigen,Mutagen, Human Data; Hormone. Calcium chloride is usedas road salt for melting snow, a drying agent in desiccators,for dehydrating organic liquids and gases, in refrigerationbrines and antifreeze, as a dust-proofing agent, food additive, concrete hardening accelerator, and others.Incompatibilities: The solution in water is a weak base.Reacts with zinc in presence of moisture, forming highly526 Calcium chlorideflammable hydrogen gas. Dissolves violently in waterwith generation of much heat. Incompatible with water,bromine trifluoride; 2-furan, percarboxylic acid. Mayattack some building materials and metals in the presenceof moisture.
Electrical Conductivity
| Concentration |
0.50% |
1% |
2% |
5% |
10% |
15% |
20% |
25% |
30% |
40% |
50% |
| mS/cm |
3.8 |
7.4 |
13.8 |
32.9 |
65.8 |
102 |
142 |
177 |
172 |
106 |
– |
Physical properties
White crystal, powder or flake; highly hygroscopic; the compound and its solutions absorb moisture from the air at various rates depending on calcium chloride concentrations, relative humidity and vapor pressure of water in the air, temperature, surface area of exposed material, and the rate of air circulation; at 40% and 95% relative humidity and 25°C, one gram anhydrous calcium chloride may absorb about 1.4 g and 17 g water, respectively. (Shearer, W. L. 1978 . In Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 3rd ed., vol. 4, pp. 432-6. New York: Wiley Interscience); density 2.15, 2.24, 1.85, 1.83 and 1.71 g/cm3 for the anhydrous salt and its mono-, di-, tetra- and hexahydrates, respectively; anhydrous salts melts at 772°C, while the mono-, di-, tetra- and hexahydrates decompose at 260°, 175°, 45.5° and 30°C, respectively; the anhydrous salt vaporizes at 1,935°C; highly soluble in water, moderate to high solubility in alcohol.
Occurrence
Calcium chloride may be found in nature as the mineral tachhydrite, CaCl2?2MgCl2?12H2O. It also is found in other minerals. Its concentration in sea water is about 0.15%.
Calcium chloride has several industrial applications. The major applications of this compound are in deicing of roads, dust control, imparting stability to roads and buildings, and to improve traction in tractor tires. It is mixed with ice to make freezing mixtures. Hexahydrate mixed with crushed ice can lower the temperature of the cooling bath to below -50°C. It also is used as a desiccant for dehydrating gases and liquids. It is added to cement in various proportions to manufacture different types of concrete. Other uses are in adhesives, to lower gel temperatures, and as a calcium source in liquid feed supplements for dairy cattle. Also, the compound is used to control particle size development and reduce coalescence in plastics.
Definition
calcium chloride: A white deliquescentcompound, CaCl2, which issoluble in water; r.d. 2.15; m.p.782°C; b.p. >1600°C. There are anumber of hydrated forms, includingthe monohydrate, CaCl2.H2O, the dihydrate,CaCl2.2H2O (r.d. 0.84), andthe hexahydrate, CaCl2.6H2O (trigonal;r.d. 1.71; the hexahydrate loses4H2O at 30°C and the remaining2H2O at 200°C). Large quantities of itare formed as a byproduct of theSolvay process and it can be preparedby dissolving calcium carbonateor calcium oxide in hydrochloricacid. Crystals of the anhydrous saltcan only be obtained if the hydratedsalt is heated in a stream of hydrogenchloride. Solid calcium chloride isused in mines and on roads to reducedust problems, whilst the molten saltis the electrolyte in the extraction ofcalcium. An aqueous solution of calciumchloride is used in refrigerationplants.
Preparation
Calcium chloride is obtained as a by-product in the manufacture of sodium carbonate (soda ash) by ammonia-soda (Solvay) process. The process involves the reaction of sodium chloride with calcium carbonate and ammonia. Calcium chloride is currently produced in bulk amounts by evaporation of natural underground brines. In the laboratory, calcium chloride can be prepared by treating limestone with hydrochloric acid followed by evaporation of solution to obtain crystals. The crystals are dehydrated to obtain anhydrous salt. Calcium oxide or hydroxide may be used instead of carbonate.
Production Methods
Calcium chloride is a principal byproduct from the Solvay process.
Brand name
Cal Plus (Mallinckrodt).
Flammability and Explosibility
Nonflammable
Agricultural Uses
Calcium, beyond being an essential nutrient, functions as an important signaling-molecule in plant stress responses. Research demonstrate that calcium treatments (CT) (330 and 660 mg L⁻1 Calcium chloride) is beneficial in increasing tolerance in drought-sensitive pepper varieties, highlighting the importance of calcium-mediated signal transduction[2].
Pharmaceutical Applications
The main applications of calcium chloride as an excipient relate to
its dehydrating properties and, therefore, it has been used as an
antimicrobial preservative, as a desiccant, and as an astringent in
eye lotions.
Therapeutically, calcium chloride injection 10% (as the dihydrate
form) is used to treat hypocalcemia.
Mechanism of action
Non-selective - acts by improving a plants defence system
Materials Uses
Thermal energy storage (TES) is particularly attractive due to its high energy storage density (1–3 GJ m−3), wide operating temperature range, long storage duration, and near-zero heat loss. Among TCES materials, hydrated salts are widely studied due to their low reaction temperatures, low toxicity, and mild operating conditions. Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is particularly attractive because of its high theoretical energy storage density, moderate dehydration temperature, chemical stability, low cost, and abundant availability. This study develops calcium chloride–based composites with hierarchical porous architectures to enhance the thermal response of solar thermochemical energy storage (TCES) systems[1].
Safety
Calcium chloride is used in topical, ophthalmic, and injection
preparations. The pure form of calcium chloride is toxic by
intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, and subcutaneous
routes, and moderately toxic by ingestion, causing stomach and
heart disturbances. It is a severe eye irritant and can cause
dermatitis.
LD50 (mouse, IP): 0.21 g/kg
LD50 (mouse, IV): 0.042 g/kg
LD50 (mouse, oral): 1.94 g/kg
LD50 (mouse, SC): 0.82 g/kg
LD50 (rat, IM): 0.025 g/kg
LD50 (rat, IP): 0.26 g/kg
LD50 (rat, oral): 1.0 g/kg
LD50 (rat, SC): 2.63 g/kg
storage
Calcium chloride is chemically stable; however, it should be
protected from moisture. Store in airtight containers in a cool, dry
place.
Properties and Applications
|
ITEMS
|
SPECIFICATION
|
|
APPEARANCE
|
WHITE,HARD ODORLESS FLAKE,
POWDER,PELLET,GRANULE
|
|
CALCIUM CHLORIDE(As CaCl2)
|
94% min
|
|
MAGNESIUM&ALKALI METAL SALT (As NaCl)
|
3.5% max
|
|
WATER INSOLUBLE MATTER
|
0.2% max
|
|
ALKALINITY(As Ca(OH)2)
|
0.20% max
|
|
SULFATE (As CaSO4)
|
0.20% max
|
|
pH VALUE
|
7-11
|
|
As
|
5 ppm max
|
|
Pb
|
10 ppm max
|
|
Fe
|
10 ppm max
|
Purification Methods
It is available as fused granules or cubic crystals. It is very hygroscopic, very soluble in H2O (exothermic), and EtOH. Store it in a tightly closed container. [Ehrlich in Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry (Ed. Brauer) Academic Press Vol I p 931 1963.]
Regulatory Status
GRAS listed. Included in the FDA Inactive Ingredients Database
(injections, ophthalmic preparations, suspensions, creams).
Included in medicines licensed in the UK (eye drops; intraocular
irrigation; vaccines; injection powders for reconstitution; nebulizer
solution; oral suspension).
References
[1] Guan, J., Luo, X., Yang, X., Yang, L., & Li, B. (2026). Experimental study on the preparation of fast-response calcium chloride composite heat storage materials for efficient thermal management. Energy, 345, Article 140192.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2026.140192[2] Gundogdu, N., Turker, H., & Unal, B. T. (2026). The effect of exogenous calcium treatments on reducing drought stress damages in pepper grown in in vitro conditions. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, 45(3), 2523–2545.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00344-026-12104-3
Pesticide Type
Plant Growth Regulator; Insecticide; Fungicide
