Calcium nitrate

Last updated
Calcium nitrate
Calcium nitrate.png
Calcium-nitrate-3D-vdW.png
Dusicnan vapenaty.JPG
Names
Other names
Kalksalpeter, Norgessalpeter, nitrocalcite, Norwegian salpeter, lime nitrate
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChEMBL
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.030.289 OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
EC Number
  • 233-332-1
PubChem CID
RTECS number
  • EW2985000
UNII
UN number 1454
  • InChI=1S/Ca.2NO3/c;2*2-1(3)4/q+2;2*-1 Yes check.svgY
    Key: ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Yes check.svgY
  • InChI=1/Ca.2NO3/c;2*2-1(3)4/q+2;2*-1
    Key: ZCCIPPOKBCJFDN-UHFFFAOYAF
  • [Ca+2].[O-][N+]([O-])=O.[O-][N+]([O-])=O
Properties
Ca(NO3)2
Molar mass 164.088 g/mol (anhydrous)
236.15 g/mol (tetrahydrate)
Appearancecolorless solid
hygroscopic
Density 2.504 g/cm3 (anhydrous)
1.896 g/cm3 (tetrahydrate)
Melting point 561 °C (1,042 °F; 834 K) (anhydrous)
42.7 °C (109 °F; 316 K) (tetrahydrate)
Boiling point decomposes (anhydrous)
132 °C (270 °F; 405 K) (tetrahydrate)
anhydrous:
1212 g/L (20 °C)
2710 g/L (40 °C)
tetrahydrate:
1050 g/L (0 °C)
1290 g/L (20 °C)
3630 g/L (100 °C)
Solubility soluble in ammonia
almost insoluble in nitric acid
Solubility in ethanol 51.4 g/100 g (20 °C)
62.9 g/100 g (40 °C) [1]
Solubility in methanol 134 g/100 g (10 °C)
144 g/100 g (40 °C)
158 g/100 g (60 °C) [1]
Solubility in acetone 33.08 g/100g (anhydrous, 25 °C) [2]
Acidity (pKa)6.0
-45.9·10−6 cm3/mol
Structure
cubic (anhydrous)
monoclinic (tetrahydrate)
Hazards
GHS labelling:
GHS-pictogram-rondflam.svg GHS-pictogram-acid.svg GHS-pictogram-exclam.svg
Danger
H272, H302, H315, H319
P210, P220, P221, P264, P270, P280, P301+P312, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P310, P321, P330, P332+P313, P337+P313, P362, P370+P378, P501
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704.svgHealth 2: Intense or continued but not chronic exposure could cause temporary incapacitation or possible residual injury. E.g. chloroformFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 1: Normally stable, but can become unstable at elevated temperatures and pressures. E.g. calciumSpecial hazard OX: Oxidizer. E.g. potassium perchlorate
2
0
1
OX
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
302 mg/kg (rat, oral)
Safety data sheet (SDS) ICSC 1037
Related compounds
Other anions
Calcium sulfate
Calcium chloride
Other cations
Magnesium nitrate
Strontium nitrate
Barium nitrate
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
X mark.svgN  verify  (what is  Yes check.svgYX mark.svgN ?)

Calcium nitrate are inorganic compounds with the formula Ca(NO3)2(H2O)x. The anhydrous compound, which is rarely encountered, absorbs moisture from the air to give the tetrahydrate. Both anhydrous and hydrated forms are colourless salts. Hydrated calcium nitrate, also called Norgessalpeter (Norwegian salpeter), is mainly used as a component in fertilizers, but it has other applications. Nitrocalcite is the name for a mineral which is a hydrated calcium nitrate that forms as an efflorescence where manure contacts concrete or limestone in a dry environment as in stables or caverns. A variety of related salts are known including calcium ammonium nitrate decahydrate and calcium potassium nitrate decahydrate. [3]

Contents

Production and reactivity

Norgessalpeter was synthesized at Notodden, Norway in 1905 by the Birkeland–Eyde process. Most of the world's calcium nitrate is now made in Porsgrunn. It is produced by treating limestone with nitric acid, followed by neutralization with ammonia:

CaCO3 + 2 HNO3 → Ca(NO3)2 + CO2 + H2O

It is also an intermediate product of the Odda Process:

Ca5(PO4)3OH + 10 HNO3 → 3 H3PO4 + 5 Ca(NO3)2 + H2O

It can also be prepared from an aqueous solution of ammonium nitrate, and calcium hydroxide:

2 NH4NO3 + Ca(OH)2 → Ca(NO3)2 + 2 NH4OH

Like related alkaline earth metal nitrates, calcium nitrate decomposes upon heating (starting at 500 °C) to release nitrogen dioxide: [3]

2 Ca(NO3)2 → 2 CaO + 4 NO2 + O2 ΔH = 369 kJ/mol

Applications

Use in agriculture

The fertilizer grade (15.5-0-0 + 19% Ca) is popular in the greenhouse and hydroponics trades; it contains ammonium nitrate and water, as the "double salt" 5Ca(NO3)2·NH4NO3·10H2O. This is called calcium ammonium nitrate and often the name calcium nitrate prill is used as it always comes in a prilled (granular) form. Formulations lacking ammonia are also known: Ca(NO3)2·4H2O (11.9-0-0 + 16.9 Ca) and the water-free 17-0-0 + 23.6 Ca. A liquid formulation (9-0-0 + 11 Ca) is also offered. An anhydrous, air-stable derivative is the urea complex Ca(NO3)2·4[OC(NH2)2], which has been sold as Cal-Urea.

Calcium nitrate is also used to control certain plant diseases. For example, dilute calcium nitrate (and calcium chloride) sprays are used to control bitter pit and cork spot in apple trees. [4]

Waste water treatment

Waste water treatment unit Calcium nitrate, waste water treatment.jpg
Waste water treatment unit

Calcium nitrate is used in waste water pre-conditioning for odour emission prevention. The waste water pre-conditioning is based on establishing an anoxic biology in the waste water system. In the presence of nitrate, the metabolism for sulfates stops, thus preventing formation of hydrogen sulfide. [5] Additionally, easily degradable organic matter is consumed, which otherwise can cause anaerobic conditions downstream as well as odour emissions itself. The concept is also applicable for surplus sludge treatment. [6]

Concrete

Calcium nitrate is used in set accelerating concrete admixtures. This use with concrete and mortar is based on two effects. The calcium ion accelerates formation of calcium hydroxide and thus precipitation and setting. This effect is used also in cold weather concreting agents as well as some combined plasticizers. [7] The nitrate ion leads to formation of iron hydroxide, whose protective layer reduces corrosion of the concrete reinforcement. [8]

Latex coagulant

Calcium nitrate is a very common coagulant in latex production, especially in dipping processes. Dissolved calcium nitrate is a part of the dipping bath solution. The warm former is dipped into the coagulation liquid and a thin film of the dipping liquid remains on the former. When now dipping the former into the latex the calcium nitrate will break up the stabilization of the latex solution and the latex will coagulate on the former. [9] [10]

Cold packs

The dissolution of calcium nitrate tetrahydrate is highly endothermic (cooling). For this reason, calcium nitrate tetrahydrate is sometimes used for regenerable cold packs. [3]

Molten salts for heat transfer and storage

Calcium nitrate can be used as a part of molten salt mixtures. Typical are binary mixtures of calcium nitrate and potassium nitrate or ternary mixtures including also sodium nitrate. [11] [12] [13] Those molten salts can be used to replace thermo oil in concentrated solar power plants for the heat transfer, but mostly those are used in heat storage.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium hydroxide</span> Chemical compound with formula NaOH

Sodium hydroxide, also known as lye and caustic soda, is an inorganic compound with the formula NaOH. It is a white solid ionic compound consisting of sodium cations Na+ and hydroxide anions OH.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ammonium nitrate</span> Chemical compound with formula NH4NO3

Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula NH4NO3. It is a white crystalline salt consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. It is highly soluble in water and hygroscopic as a solid, although it does not form hydrates. It is predominantly used in agriculture as a high-nitrogen fertilizer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium carbonate</span> Chemical compound

Sodium carbonate is the inorganic compound with the formula Na2CO3 and its various hydrates. All forms are white, odourless, water-soluble salts that yield alkaline solutions in water. Historically, it was extracted from the ashes of plants grown in sodium-rich soils, and because the ashes of these sodium-rich plants were noticeably different from ashes of wood, sodium carbonate became known as "soda ash". It is produced in large quantities from sodium chloride and limestone by the Solvay process, as well as by carbonating sodium hydroxide which is made using the Chlor-alkali process.

The nitrophosphate process is a method for the industrial production of nitrogen fertilizers invented by Erling Johnson in the municipality of Odda, Norway around 1927.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sodium sulfate</span> Chemical compound with formula Na2SO4

Sodium sulfate (also known as sodium sulphate or sulfate of soda) is the inorganic compound with formula Na2SO4 as well as several related hydrates. All forms are white solids that are highly soluble in water. With an annual production of 6 million tonnes, the decahydrate is a major commodity chemical product. It is mainly used as a filler in the manufacture of powdered home laundry detergents and in the Kraft process of paper pulping for making highly alkaline sulfides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lithium nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Lithium nitrate is an inorganic compound with the formula LiNO3. It is the lithium salt of nitric acid (an alkali metal nitrate). The salt is deliquescent, absorbing water to form the hydrated form, lithium nitrate trihydrate. Its eutectics are of interest for heat transfer fluids.

In chemistry, water(s) of crystallization or water(s) of hydration are water molecules that are present inside crystals. Water is often incorporated in the formation of crystals from aqueous solutions. In some contexts, water of crystallization is the total mass of water in a substance at a given temperature and is mostly present in a definite (stoichiometric) ratio. Classically, "water of crystallization" refers to water that is found in the crystalline framework of a metal complex or a salt, which is not directly bonded to the metal cation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Magnesium nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Magnesium nitrate refers to inorganic compounds with the formula Mg(NO3)2(H2O)x, where x = 6, 2, and 0. All are white solids. The anhydrous material is hygroscopic, quickly forming the hexahydrate upon standing in air. All of the salts are very soluble in both water and ethanol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury(II) nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Mercury(II) nitrate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Hg(NO3)2. It is the mercury(II) salt of nitric acid HNO3. It contains mercury(II) cations Hg2+ and nitrate anions NO−3, and water of crystallization H2O in the case of a hydrous salt. Mercury(II) nitrate forms hydrates Hg(NO3)2·xH2O. Anhydrous and hydrous salts are colorless or white soluble crystalline solids that are occasionally used as a reagents. Mercury(II) nitrate is made by treating mercury with hot concentrated nitric acid. Neither anhydrous nor monohydrate has been confirmed by X-ray crystallography. The anhydrous material is more widely used.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zinc nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Zinc nitrate is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula Zn(NO3)2. This colorless, crystalline salt is highly deliquescent. It is typically encountered as a hexahydrate Zn(NO3)2·6H2O. It is soluble in both water and alcohol.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cadmium nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Cadmium nitrate describes any of the related members of a family of inorganic compounds with the general formula Cd(NO3)2·xH2O. The most commonly encountered form being the tetrahydrate.The anhydrous form is volatile, but the others are colourless crystalline solids that are deliquescent, tending to absorb enough moisture from the air to form an aqueous solution. Like other cadmium compounds, cadmium nitrate is known to be carcinogenic. According to X-ray crystallography, the tetrahydrate features octahedral Cd2+ centers bound to six oxygen ligands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iron(III) nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Iron(III) nitrate, or ferric nitrate, is the name used for a series of inorganic compounds with the formula Fe(NO3)3.(H2O)n. Most common is the nonahydrate Fe(NO3)3.(H2O)9. The hydrates are all pale colored, water-soluble paramagnetic salts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickel(II) nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Nickel nitrate is the inorganic compound Ni(NO3)2 or any hydrate thereof. In the hexahydrate, the nitrate anions are not bonded to nickel. Other hydrates have also been reported: Ni(NO3)2.9H2O, Ni(NO3)2.4H2O, and Ni(NO3)2.2H2O.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cobalt(II) nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Cobalt nitrate is the inorganic compound with the formula Co(NO3)2.xH2O. It is cobalt(II)'s salt. The most common form is the hexahydrate Co(NO3)2·6H2O, which is a red-brown deliquescent salt that is soluble in water and other polar solvents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manganese(II) nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Manganese(II) nitrate refers to the inorganic compounds with formula Mn(NO3)2·(H2O)n. These compounds are nitrate salts containing varying amounts of water. A common derivative is the tetrahydrate, Mn(NO3)2·4H2O, but mono- and hexahydrates are also known as well as the anhydrous compound. Some of these compounds are useful precursors to the oxides of manganese. Typical of a manganese(II) compound, it is a paramagnetic pale pink solid.

Calcium ammonium nitrate or CAN, also known as nitro-limestone or nitrochalk, is a widely used inorganic fertilizer, accounting for 4% of all nitrogen fertilizer used worldwide in 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cerium nitrates</span> Chemical compound

Cerium nitrate refers to a family of nitrates of cerium in the +3 or +4 oxidation state. Often these compounds contain water, hydroxide, or hydronium ions in addition to cerium and nitrate. Double nitrates of cerium also exist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zirconium nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Zirconium nitrate is a volatile anhydrous transition metal nitrate salt of zirconium with formula Zr(NO3)4. It has alternate names of zirconium tetranitrate, or zirconium(IV) nitrate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Thorium(IV) nitrate</span> Chemical compound

Thorium(IV) nitrate is a chemical compound, a salt of thorium and nitric acid with the formula Th(NO3)4. A white solid in its anhydrous form, it can form tetra- and pentahydrates. As a salt of thorium it is weakly radioactive.

Indium(III) nitrate is a nitrate salt of indium which forms various hydrates. Only the pentahydrate has been crystallographically verified. Other hydrates are also reported in literature, such as the trihydrate.

References

  1. 1 2 Anatolievich, Kiper Ruslan. "Properties of substance: calcium nitrate" . Retrieved 2015-09-09.
  2. Norwitz, George; Chasan, David E. (1968-05-01). "Application of Infrared Spectroscopy to the Analysis of Inorganic Nitrates" (PDF). Defense Technical Information Centre. Retrieved 2023-01-21.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  3. 1 2 3 "Nitrates and Nitrites". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry . Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. 2002. doi:10.1002/14356007.a17_265. ISBN   978-3527306732.
  4. "Bitter Pit and Cork Spot". University of Wisconsin-Extension Cooperative Extension. UW-Madison, Dept of Horticulture.
  5. Bentzen, G; Smith, A; Bennett, D; Webster, N; Reinholt, F; Sletholt, E; Hobson, J (1995). "Controlled dosing of nitrate for prevention of H2S in a sewer network and the effects on the subsequent treatment process". Water Science and Technology. 31 (7): 293. doi:10.1016/0273-1223(95)00346-O.
  6. Einarsen, A.M.; ÆeesØy, A.; Rasmussen, A. I.; Bungum, S.; Sveberg, M. (2000). "Biological prevention and removal of hydrogen sulphide in sludge at Lillehammer Wastewater Treatment Plant". Water Sci. Technol. 41 (6): 175–187. doi:10.2166/wst.2000.0107.
  7. Justines, H. (2010) "Calcium Nitrate as a Multifunctional Concrete Admixture" Concrete Magazine, Vol 44, No. 1, p.34. ISSN   0010-5317
  8. Al-Amoudi, Omar S.Baghabra; Maslehuddin, Mohammed; Lashari, A.N; Almusallam, Abdullah A (2003). "Effectiveness of corrosion inhibitors in contaminated concrete". Cement and Concrete Composites. 25 (4–5): 439. doi:10.1016/S0958-9465(02)00084-7.
  9. N. C. Dafader, Y. N. Jolly, M. E. Haque, F. Akhtar & M. U. Ahmad: The Role of Coagulants on the Preparation of Dipped film from Radiation Vulcanized Natural Rubber Latex. Polymer-Plastics Technology and Engineering. Volume 38, Issue 2, 1999, pages 267-274. Online: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/03602559909351576
  10. "Rubbercare - Choice Latex and Nitrile Gloves from a Trusted Manufacturer".
  11. "Potassium calcium nitrate promising for CSP heat storage – Solar Novus Today".
  12. European Patent Application EP0049761: Use of a ternary mixture of salts as a heat transmitting medium and/or as a heat storage medium. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/EP0049761A1.html
  13. WIPO Patent Application WO/2014/044652: Use of a calcium potassium nitrate salt for the manufacture of a heat transfer fluid. http://www.freepatentsonline.com/WO2014044652A1.html