Lime water [Chemical formula, Physical, Chemical Properties and Reactions]

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 3, 2024

Lime water have following chemical formula Ca(OH)2

Physical Properties of Lime Water:

PropertiesDetails
SolubilityHighly soluble in water
pH LevelAlkaline (around 12-13)
OdorFaint odor
Melting PointDecomposes before melting
DensityApproximately 1.02 g/cm³ at 25°C
ConductivityGood conductor of electricity due to the presence of ions
ClarityClear or slightly cloudy liquid
Boiling PointDecomposes at high temperatures (above 100°C)
AppearanceColorless liquid

Chemical Properties of Lime Water:

Properties Details
Chemical FormulaCa(OH)₂ (Calcium hydroxide)
Lime Water TestLime water turns milky/cloudy when carbon dioxide is passed through it, indicating the presence of carbon dioxide.

Example:

CO₂ + Ca(OH)₂ → CaCO₃ + H₂O (Milky/cloudy appearance)

Oxidation/ReductionLime water is not typically involved in oxidation or reduction reactions.
Reaction with AcidReacts with acids to form calcium salts and water.

Example:

 

Ca(OH)₂ + 2HCl → CaCl₂ + 2H₂O

Reaction with CO₂Reacts with carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate (a white precipitate) and water.

Example:

Ca(OH)₂ + CO₂ → CaCO₃ + H₂O

Reaction with MetalsReacts with certain metals to form hydrogen gas and corresponding metal hydroxides. Example: Ca(OH)₂ + 2Al → Al(OH)₃ + H₂
StabilityLime water is stable under normal conditions but can absorb carbon dioxide from the air, forming calcium carbonate and becoming cloudy. It should be stored in a tightly closed container.

Reaction of lime water with Alkali metal

Alkali metalChemical symbolReaction with lime water
LithiumLiLi + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  CaLi2 + H2O
SodiumNa2 Na + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Ca(OH)2 + 2 NaOH
PotassiumK2 K + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Ca(OH)2 + 2 KOH
RubidiumRb2 Rb + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Ca(OH)2 + 2 RbOH
CesiumCs2 Cs + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Ca(OH)2 + 2 CsOH
FranciumFr2 Fr + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Ca(OH)2 + 2 FrOH

Reaction of lime water with Alkaline earth metal

Alkaline earth metalChemical symbolReaction with lime water
BerylliumBeBe + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into    no product
MagnesiumMgMg + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into    no product
CalciumCaCa + 2 Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  3 CaO + 2 H2O
StrontiumSrSr + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Sr(OH)2 + Ca
BariumBaBa + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Ba(OH)2 + Ca

Reaction of lime water with Transition metal

Transition metalChemical symbolPossible reactions with lime water
IronFeFe + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Fe(OH)2 + Ca
CopperCuCu + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into    no product  in neutral solution; may form Cu(OH)2 in basic solution
ZincZnZn + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into    no product
SilverAgAg + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into    no product  in neutral solution; may form AgOH in basic solution
NickelNiNi + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Ni(OH)2 + Ca
CobaltCoCo + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Ca(OH)2 + Ca

Reaction of lime water with Non-transition metal

Non-transition metalChemical symbolReaction with lime water
HydrogenH  no product
BoronB  no product
CarbonCC + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  CaCO3 (white  ppt) + H2O
NitrogenN  no product
OxygenO  no product
FluorineF  no product
NeonNe  no product
AluminumAl  no product  in neutral solution; may form Al(OH)3 in basic solution
SiliconSi  no product
PhosphorusP  no product
SulfurS  no product
ChlorineCl  no product
ArgonAr  no product

Reaction of lime water with Non-metal

Non-metalChemical symbolReaction with lime water
HydrogenH  no product
CarbonCC + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  CaCO3 (white  ppt) + H2O
NitrogenN  no product
OxygenO  no product
FluorineF  no product
NeonNe  no product
PhosphorusP  no product
SulfurSS + Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  CaS (yellow/brown  ppt) + H2O
ChlorineCl  no product
ArgonAr  no product

Reaction of lime water with Metalloid

MetalloidChemical symbolReaction with lime water
BoronB  no product
SiliconSi  no product
GermaniumGe  no product
ArsenicAsAs + 3 Ca(OH)2   react and convert into  Ca3(AsO4)2 (white  ppt) + 2H2O
AntimonySb  no product
TelluriumTe  no product

Reaction of lime water with Lanthanide

LanthanideChemical symbolReaction with lime water
LanthanumLaLa + 2H2O   react and convert into  La(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
CeriumCeCe + 2H2O    react and convert into  Ce(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
PraseodymiumPrPr + 2H2O    react and convert into  Pr(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
NeodymiumNdNd + 2H2O    react and convert into  Nd(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
PromethiumPmPm + 2H2O    react and convert into  Pm(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
SamariumSmSm + 2H2O    react and convert into  Sm(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
EuropiumEuEu + 2H2O    react and convert into  Eu(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
GadoliniumGdGd + 2H2O    react and convert into  Gd(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
TerbiumTbTb + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Tb(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
DysprosiumDyDy + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Dy(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
HolmiumHoHo + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Ho(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
ErbiumErEr + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Er(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
ThuliumTmTm + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Tm(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
YtterbiumYbYb + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Yb(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
LutetiumLuLu + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Lu(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2

Reaction of lime water with Actinide

ActinideChemical symbolReaction with lime water
ActiniumAcAc + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Ac(OH)3 (white  ppt) + H2
ThoriumThTh + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Th(OH)4 (white  ppt) + H2
ProtactiniumPaPa + 2 H2O   react and convert into  Pa(OH)4 (white  ppt) + H2
UraniumUU + 2 H2O   react and convert into  UO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
NeptuniumNpNp + 2 H2O   react and convert into  NpO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
PlutoniumPuPu + 2 H2O   react and convert into  PuO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
AmericiumAmAm + 2 H2O   react and convert into  AmO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
CuriumCmCm + 2 H2O   react and convert into  CmO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
BerkeliumBkBk + 2 H2O   react and convert into  BkO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
CaliforniumCfCf + 2 H2O   react and convert into  CfO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
EinsteiniumEsEs + 2 H2O   react and convert into  EsO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
FermiumFmFm + 2 H2O   react and convert into  FmO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
MendeleviumMdMd + 2 H2O   react and convert into  MdO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
NobeliumNoNo + 2 H2O   react and convert into  NoO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2
LawrenciumLrLr + 2H2O   react and convert into  LrO2(OH)2 (yellow-brown  ppt) + H2