What is the Difference Between Slaked Lime and Lime Water?

The main difference between slaked lime and lime water lies in their state, composition, and preparation. Here are the key differences:

1. State: Slaked lime is the solid form of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂), while lime water is a dilute solution of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂) in water.
2. Composition: Slaked lime is pure calcium hydroxide, whereas lime water is a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide and contains additional water.
3. Preparation: Slaked lime is produced by adding water to quick lime (CaO), which is also known as calcium oxide. Lime water, on the other hand, is produced by adding slaked lime to water.
4. Appearance: Slaked lime is a solid, white powder, while lime water is a colorless solution. Slaked lime in water forms a suspension known as "milk of lime" due to its milky appearance.
5. Reaction: The reaction involved in the production of slaked lime is: CaO + H₂O → Ca(OH)₂. In contrast, the reaction involved in the production of lime water is: Ca(OH)₂ + nH₂O → Ca(OH)₂ ⋅ nH₂O.

In summary, both slaked lime and lime water contain calcium hydroxide, but they differ in their state, composition, and preparation methods. Slaked lime is the solid form of calcium hydroxide, while lime water is a dilute solution of calcium hydroxide in water.

Comparative Table: Slaked Lime vs Lime Water

Here is a table comparing the differences between slaked lime and lime water:

Both slaked lime and lime water contain calcium hydroxide as an aqueous solution, but they differ in their preparation procedures, concentration, and common names.