What is "calcium hydroxide"

n. (context inorganic compound English) A soft, white powder, Ca(OH)₂, obtained by the action of water on calcium oxide; slaked lime.

n. a caustic substance produced by heating limestone [syn: lime, slaked lime, hydrated lime, calcium hydrate, caustic lime, lime hydrate]

Calcium hydroxide, traditionally called slaked lime, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Ca( OH). It is a colorless crystal or white powder and is obtained when calcium oxide (called lime or quicklime) is mixed, or "slaked" with water. It has many names including hydrated lime, caustic lime, builders' lime, slack lime, cal, or pickling lime. Calcium hydroxide is used in many applications, including food preparation. Limewater is the common name for a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide.

This page provides supplementary chemical data on calcium hydroxide.