calcium hydroxide
A strong alkali (Ca(OH) 2 ), which can
be formed by the reaction of calcium oxide (CaO)
with water. If the oxide is treated with only
sufficient water to make it crumble to a fine,
white, dry powder, slaked lime is produced. By
slaking the paste formed from the oxide with an
excess of water, a suspension called "milk of
lime" is formed. A clear solution of the hydroxide
in water is known as lime water. Calcium hydroxide
is used extensively in a very strong solution (pH
of approximately 11.4) in the LIMING and UNHAIRING of hides
and skins in leather manufacture, and in the
deacidification of paper. In the latter use, the
resulting pH is approximately 11.0, and paper so
treated is easily oxidized unless the pH is
reduced by exposure to carbon dioxide or the paper
is treated subsequently with a solution of calcium
bicarbonate. (31 ,
363 )
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