CHLORIDE OF CALCIUM.

347

fused in a crucible. While in the liquid state it is to be poured on aclean flat stone, and when cold broken into small pieces, and preservedin a well-stopped vessel.

In this process one equivalent or 37 parts of hydrochloric acid reacton one equivalent or 50 parts of carbonate of lime, and produce oneequivalent or 22 parts of carbonic acid, which escapes in a gaseous form,one equivalent or 9 parts of water, and one equivalent or 56 parts ofchloride of calcium. By the subsequent evaporation and fusion, boththe water used and that formed are expelled, leaving anhydrous chlorideof calcium.

REAGENTS.

RESULTS.

1 eq. Carbon te .ofLime. . 50

1 eq. Hydrochl 0 .Acid . . 3 7

1 eq. Carbon.A d . 22-1 eq. Carb c . Acid . 22

1 eq. Oxygen . . 8- 1 eq. Water .... 9

1 eq. Calcium .

1 eq. Hydr. . . 1— ^

1 eq. Chlor. . . 36-1 eq. Chlor lie .Calc m . 56

Chloride of calcium is a secondary product in the manufacture of thehydrated sesquicarbonate of ammonia (p. 174).

Properties. —Anhydrous chloride of calcium is a white translucentsolid, of a crystalline texture. Its taste is bitter and acrid saline. It isfusible, but not volatile. It deliquesces in the air, and becomes what hasbeen called oil of lim,e {oieum calcis). When put into water it evolvesheat, and readily dissolves in a quarter of its weight of this fluid at60° F., or in a much less quantity of hot water. By evaporation the solu-tion yields striated crystals ( hydrated chloride of calcium ), having theform of regular six-sided prisms, and which, therefore, belong to therhombohedic system (p. 61). These crystals undergo the watery fusionwhen heated, are deliquescent, readily dissolve in water with the produc-tion of great cold, and when mixed with ice or snow form a powerfulfrigorific mixture. Both anhydrous and hydrous chloride of calcium arereadily soluble in alcohol.

Characteristics. —This salt is known to be a chloride by the testsfor this class of salts before mentioned (p. 105). The nature of its baseis ascertained by the tests for lime (p. 343).

Composition. —The composition of this salt is as follows:—

Eq.

Calcium . . . . 1 . .Chlorine .... 1 .

Eq.Wt.

. . 20 . .

. . 36 . .

Per Cent.

. . 35-71 . .

. . 64-28 . .

Ure.

. 36-7. 63-3

Eq.

Chloride Calcium 1 .Water.6 .

Eq.Wt.

. . 56. . 54

Chloride Calcium 1 . .

. . 56 . .

. . 99-99 . .

. 100-0

Cry'.Chl de .Calc m . 1 .

. . 110

Purity. —Chloride of calcium, when pure, is colourless, evolves noammonia when mixed with lime, and undergoes no change of colour norgives any precipitate with caustic ammonia, chloride of barium, hydro-sulphuric acid, or ferroevanide of potassium.

Physiological Effects. («.) On animals. —Three drachms and ahalf given to a dog caused quick breathing and snorting, with convulsivebut vain efforts to vomit, a profuse secretion of saliva, and death in sixhours. The mucous membrane of the stomach and small intestines wasvery blood-shot, and in many places almost black, and convertedinto a gelatinous mass (Beddoes , Duncan's Annals of Medicine, vol. i.Lustr . ii. 208).