Calcium formate

• E 238
• Calciumdiformiat
• Calciummethanoat

Colorless, almost odorless solid

Fixed

2.02 g · cm -3

> 380 ° C ( decomposition)

• Slightly soluble in water (160 g · l-1 at 20 ° C)
• Insoluble in ethanol

Attention

2650 mg · kg -1 ( LD50, rat, oral)

Template: Infobox chemical / molecular formula search available

Calcium is a chemical compound selected from the group of formates, that is, the calcium salt of formic acid.

Occurrence

Calcium is very rare as the mineral Formicait.

Production and representation

Calcium can be obtained by reaction of carbon monoxide with calcium hydroxide

Or the reaction of formaldehyde with a calcium compound in an aqueous solution are obtained (for example, calcium hydroxide or calcium peroxide ). It is also formed as a byproduct in the production of polyols (e.g. trimethylolpropane ).

Properties

Calcium formate is a colorless, almost odorless solid. It is the calcium salt of formic acid. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system, space group pcAb with the lattice parameters a = 1016.8 pm, b = 1340.7 pm and c = 627.8 pm. In the unit cell contains eight formula units.

Use

Calcium is used for the production of formic acid, as an aid in tanning, as a setting accelerator for cement based construction materials, as an aid for the processing of oil emulsions for the production of Silierhilfsmitteln and additives for animal nutrition. The compound was formerly used as a food additive (preservative E238 ), but is no longer permitted since 1998.