Calcium hydride
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| Calcium hydride | |
|---|---|
| Image:Calcium hydride.jpg | |
| General | |
| Systematic name | Calcium(II) hydride |
| Other names | Calcium hydride, Calcium dihydride |
| Molecular formula | CaH2 |
| Molar mass | 42.094 g/mol |
| Appearance | grey or white-grey powdery solid |
| Crystal Structure | orthorhombic |
| CAS number | [7789-78-8] |
| Properties | |
| Density and phase | 1.7 g/cm3 |
| Solubility in water | |
| Melting point | 1000 °C |
| Boiling point | |
| Heat of fusion | 159.2 J/g |
| Except where noted otherwise, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C, 100 kPa) Infobox disclaimer and references |
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Calcium hydride is a very reactive solid under normal conditions. It is a grey powdery solid (if obtained commercially) and may spontaneously ignite if not kept out from air. It reacts vigorously with water liberating hydrogen gas, which usually ignites due to the large amount of heat produced:
CaH2 (s) + 2H2O (l) → Ca(OH)2 + 2H2 (g)
This reaction can be quite vigorous. However, with a bit of care, calcium hydride can be used as a desiccant to remove traces of water from organic solvents.
It is used as a powerful reducing agent and for the laboratory preparation of hydrogen gas.
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