Question #32ecf

1 Answer
May 11, 2015

Whitewash is made by mixing quicklime, which is another name for calcium oxide, CaOCaO, with water.

Calcium oxide is obtained from the thermal decomposition reaction of limestone, which is another name used for calcium carbonate, CaCO_3CaCO3. When you heat limestone, you convert it to calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.

CaCO_(3(s)) -> CaO_((s)) + CO_(2(g))CaCO3(s)CaO(s)+CO2(g)

When calcium oxide is mixed, or slacked, with water, you get slacked lime, which is calcium hydroxide.

CaO_((s)) + H_2O_((l)) -> Ca(OH)_(2(s))CaO(s)+H2O(l)Ca(OH)2(s)

Calcium hydroxide is one of the main ingreadients in whitewash, along with chalk, or calcium carbonate, CaCO_3CaCO3.

Calcium hydroxide is converted into calcium carbonate by a process called carbonation

Ca(OH)_(2(s)) + CO_text(2(g]) -> CaCO_text(3(s]) + H_2O_((l))Ca(OH)2(s)+CO2(g]CaCO3(s]+H2O(l)

![http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lime_(material)](useruploads.socratic.org)

So, as a conclusion, whitewash is a solution that cxontains calcium hydroxide (slacked lime) and calcium carbonate (chalk).