Chemical Composition: The main component is calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). Higher purity generally indicates better quality. It may also contain small amounts of impurities such as magnesium oxide, silicon dioxide, and iron oxide.
Physical Properties:
Color: Usually white or off-white; high purity powder can be pure white.
Hardness: Mohs hardness is approximately 3, indicating a relatively soft texture.
Density: Bulk density is approximately 1.2-1.5 g/cm³.
Chemical Properties:
Thermal Decomposition: Decomposes at high temperatures (above approximately 900°C) to produce quicklime (CaO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Acid Resistance: Reacts with strong acids to produce the corresponding calcium salts, water, and carbon dioxide. This is the principle behind its use in flue gas desulfurization.
Acidity/Alkalinity: Aqueous solutions are weakly alkaline.
