Calcium acetate

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Calcium acetate

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Abbreviations	Ca(OAc)2
Template:Longitem	3692527
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EC Number	Template:Unbulleted list
Template:Longitem	22320
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Template:Longitem	Template:Chembox Elements/molecular formula
Molar mass	158.166 g/mol (anhydrous) 176.181 g/mol (monohydrate)
Appearance	White solid hygroscopic
Odor	slight acetic acid odor
Density	1.509 g/cm3
Melting point	Template:Chembox CalcTemperatures
Solubility	slightly soluble in methanol, hydrazine insoluble in acetone, ethanol and benzene
Acidity (pKa)	ca. 0.7
Template:Longitem	−70.7·10−6 cm3/mol
Template:Longitem	1.55
Template:Longitem	V03AE07 (WHO)
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)	Template:NFPA 704 diamond
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Template:Longitem	Magnesium acetate

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, resembling a snowball and can be lit on fire; it will burn for around 20 minutes.

Natural occurrence

Pure calcium acetate is yet unknown among minerals. CalclaciteTemplate:Mdashcalcium acetate chloride pentahydrateTemplate:Mdashis listed as a known mineral, but its genesis is anthropogenic (human-generated, as opposed to naturally occurring).