You may not be aware of it, but the paper you use contains calcium chloride.
The word "chemical" can produce different reactions in people. These can range from passivity to downright negative. People may think of chemicals as substances that damage our health and the environment, and this may be true at extreme levels. However, some chemicals are beneficial when used correctly for health and safety purposes.
Melting Snow
Winter is a reality in the United States that people have to deal with for months on end. Calcium Chloride is a chemical found in products that are used to melt snow. This is particularly useful for roads and highways. Calcium chloride is scattered by the snow plows, especially in snow-prone areas. Patrols do this to prevent the road from becoming impassable due to snow buildup on the roads that could cause car accidents.
Food
The food industry also benefits from calcium chloride because it is a preservative. This is especially true for packaged foods. Calcium chloride when added to packaged foods helps them to last longer. Pasteurized milk also has calcium chloride mixed into it in small quantities. This is because the process of pasteurization decreases the calcium content in milk. When this happens, proper curdling can be disrupted. The presence of calcium chloride in small quantities ensures that the milk is properly formed. Some cheeses also use calcium chloride because it helps in their curdling process.
Concrete
Most people think that cement is concrete but cement is just one component of concrete. Concrete is made of cement, sand and small additions like pebbles. With technological developments, calcium chloride was eventually added into the mixture. This is because the chemical compound reinforces the concrete, making it stronger.
Paper Production
Paper is still widely used, even with the availability of various technologies that promise to eliminate it. Industries everywhere still need paper for inventory and accounting purposes. Paper production involves a series of processes, including pulping, grinding, and draining of the material. Calcium chloride aides in the draining process of the material involved, be it original pulp from trees or recycled paper. It also helps in retaining the ink printed on the paper.
Medicine
Calcium chloride also has several uses in the medical field. Cases of hypocalceimic tetany use calcium chloride as part of their treatment for the condition. Doctors inject calcium chloride into their patients in set doses to determine and diagnose their condition. Doctors also find the chemical compound is useful when an adrenaline injection fails to wake a patient after open-heart surgery.
Tags: calcium chloride, also calcium, also calcium chloride, Calcium chloride, calcium chloride because, chemical compound
