Lime water

Lime water is the common name for saturated calcium hydroxide solution. The "lime" has nothing to do with the citrus fruit called "lime". Many calcium compounds are named "lime"; see also slaked lime and quick lime.

Table of contents

1 Etymology 2 Making lime water 3 Uses of Lime water

Etymology

• Middle English lim, from Old English līm, birdlime.

Making lime water

Lime water can be made by adding calcium hydroxide to distilled water, The mixture needs to be shaken every few hours for a period of 24 hours to ensure that as much calcium hydroxide dissolves as possible. It is then left to settle and the solution is syphoned off the sediment.

Uses of Lime water

Lime water reacts with carbon dioxide to produce a precipitate of calcium carbonate. It is used as a test for carbon dioxide.