Calcium Acetate Monohydrate: Description, Properties, and Applications

What is Calcium Acetate Monohydrate?

Calcium Acetate Monohydrate stands out as a white, odorless solid that commonly comes in powder, flakes, or crystalline forms. This chemical, with the molecular formula Ca(C₂H₃O₂)₂·H₂O, weighs in with a molecular mass of 176.18 g/mol. Its structure brings together calcium ions balanced by two acetate anions and a single water molecule integrated as part of the crystal lattice. This setup not only lends stability at room temperature, it also allows the material to dissolve easily in water, leaving a slightly alkaline solution behind. Standard density sits around 1.5 g/cm³. Many people overlook how just a slight shift in moisture or storage warmth can turn this monohydrate into anhydrous calcium acetate, changing how it reacts and how safe it is to handle.

Physical Characteristics

Heat makes this compound decompose before hitting a boiling point, which rules out certain high-temp industrial processes. In its pure crystalline form, the product looks much like small colorless grains or pearls. Larger commercial batches might include it as a free-flowing powder or coarse flakes, bringing flexibility to how buyers cart and use it. One thing stands out—this chemical pulls water from the air, so packing must stay tight and dry to keep product quality. Water solubility rates high: at about 37 g dissolves in just 100 mL at 20°C. Folks who deal with it every day must feel the gritty texture—distinct, easy to spot by touch, and rarely confused with similar industrial salts.

Chemical Properties and Structure

As a calcium salt of acetic acid, this material creates neutralization reactions and can buffer acidic mixtures. The chemical stability shines in environments free from strong acids or bases. Once it mixes with water, calcium acetate releases free calcium and acetate ions, which can change the pH of water—a fact crucial for water treatment facilities. Standard reactivity means the compound won’t make a fuss with most non-reactive materials, though mixing with strong mineral acids like hydrochloric acid quickly forms acetic acid vapors, which come with safety issues. Chemists value the regularity of its crystal habit, which gives consistent sizing during storage or production, especially in pharmaceutical and food uses.

Specifications and HS Code

Strict industry guidelines set the bar for purity, especially in food and pharma. Purity usually comes above 98%, with residue on ignition and heavy metal traces kept at trace levels. Water content hovers around 6-7%, measured to maintain monohydrate status rather than plain anhydrous calcium acetate. HS Code for trade now falls under 29152990, classifying it as a calcium organic salt—this code signals customs regulations and sets expectations for safety handling, taxes, and documentation. Bulk buyers often hear this number tossed around during shipping, procurement, or customs checks.

Material Forms: Powder, Flakes, Pearls, Liquid, and Crystal

Production plants churn out Calcium Acetate Monohydrate in several shapes: soft powder for pharmaceuticals, flaky solids for industrial desalting, pearl-like granules for laboratories, concentrated liquid for wastewater, and crystalline nuggets for food stabilizers. Each texture decides how quickly and evenly the material dissolves or blends in practical applications. Powders work best in tablets or capsules because they blend, measure, and compress so easily. Finer crystals dissolve faster, making them more useful for fast-acting solutions. Flakes and pearls handle better during scale-up or transport—less dust and spill, which matters in tight, safety-conscious workspaces.

Applications and Importance

In medicine, calcium acetate acts as a phosphate binder, a mainstay in kidney disease therapy. These tablets or capsules help patients control blood phosphate levels, cutting down risks tied to renal complications. In food production, it serves as an acidity regulator and preservative, allowed under specific codes like E263. From bakeries to cheese-makers, many food producers reach for calcium acetate to balance pH or firm up gel-based desserts. When it comes to the lab bench, researchers favor the reliable, consistent quality for studies needing reproducible results—especially where trace impurities disrupt sensitive analyses.

Industrial sectors use the raw material to develop biodegradable plastics, treatments for wastewater, and fire retardants. Its ability to trap phosphates makes it a solid pick for sewage or chemical plant treatment. Concrete makers, textile finishers, and even some agricultural operations count on it for unique purposes: concrete accelerators, antifreeze agents, or as a calcium source in animal feed. During years working with wastewater specialists, I watched teams use calcium acetate as a simple, stable way to reduce phosphorus prior to discharge, saving lakes and rivers from dangerous algae blooms.

Some folks forget that in older times, this chemical often acted as a cheap “acetate” source for laboratory reactions. Where low-cost and almost non-toxic reactants are needed, schools and college labs use this calcium salt to teach acid-base neutralization, precipitation, and basic chemical synthesis, since student safety matters more than anything. As a starter material for polymer and degradable plastic studies, the acetate component proves versatile, supporting greener approaches in packaging and agriculture.

Safety, Hazards, and Handling

By chemical standards, this acetate stays pretty safe for routine handling. Dust turns breathing into an unpleasant chore—getting a mask or local exhaust in place curbs irritation. Touching the solid raises little risk for healthy skin, but anyone can get dry hands after repeated contact. Swallowing excessive amounts—more than you’d ever get in food—could trouble calcium homeostasis, yet typical dietary and pharmaceutical doses rest in well-studied safety ranges. Fire isn’t a major threat, but burning can generate acetic acid vapors, which smell sharp and irritate eyes and airways. Safe storage means locked, dry, and clearly marked containers. For transportation, most regional and international laws slot it as a low-risk material, provided basic precautions against spillage or, less often, dust explosions.

Large-scale handlers look for clearly labeled drums, slip-proof pallets, and chemical inventory systems. Safer working conditions draw from careful training, fresh air, and regular equipment checks—habits learned the hard way in older facilities where open powder transfer left everyone caked in gritty white dust. Modern workflows rely on closed systems and tight labelling to prevent confusion with other white, crystalline chemicals. Not every user considers the knock-on effects: where run-off or dust gets into waterways, aquatic life can suffer from shifts in pH or calcium levels. For hazardous waste, incineration under strict regulations beats dumping every time. Responsible management isn’t about checking boxes, it means thinking through every step from order to disposal.

Raw Material Sourcing and Market Considerations

Calcium Acetate Monohydrate production depends on steady supplies of calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide and quality acetic acid, often drawn from large agro-industrial chemical facilities. Market swings—such as price hikes in petroleum or corn (sources for acetic acid)—directly affect costs and availability. Environmental regulations push some suppliers to cleaner, more traceable manufacturing chains, a move appreciated by pharmaceutical and food buyers. Modern buyers like to see clear origin tracing and batch-level certificates to verify compliance with safety and purity rules. In practice, any supply chain setback—a strike, factory spill, or shipping slow-down—can halt downstream industries from making critical medical or food batch deliveries. As an advocate for transparent, ethical raw material sourcing, I’ve seen companies set up supplier audits, third-party quality control checks, and traceability tags that run all the way from the reactor kettle to the packaged consumer tablet.

Conclusion: Value and Best Practices

Working with Calcium Acetate Monohydrate requires careful attention to form, quality, sourcing, and downstream application. Its place in food, medicine, and industry shows just how versatile a simple salt can be. Reliable production and distribution not only keep costs steady, but protect entire communities from supply interruptions. Straightforward handling rules and solid supplier relationships turn a basic raw material into an asset—the backbone for safer pharmaceuticals, greener production, and cleaner water.