Chemical
Calcium acetate easily decomposes when heated to produce acetone and calcium carbonate.
It is also a fairly reactive, soluble calcium salt. Anhydrous calcium acetate is treated with concentrated sulfuric acid to form insoluble calcium sulfate, a useful reagent. Calcium acetate will also gel many alcohols if mixed in the correct proportions. Too much calcium acetate will cause the gel to revert to a liquid.
Pure calcium acetate is a white powder that readily absorbs water to form a translucent crystalline monohydrate. It can be re-dried to an anhydrous form by heating, but calcium acetate is one of the few ionic salts that can burn itself, so open flames and extremely high temperatures can destroy the product.
Not only is this chemical commonly sold as a "hot ice" alternative, but it can be made from calcium carbonate or calcium hydroxide and acetic acid. Avoid using calcium oxide (quicklime) because the neutralization reaction is too exothermic and the mixture may boil.
Calcium acetate can be easily prepared by reacting calcium hydroxide or calcium carbonate with acetic acid.
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Safety
Calcium acetate can be considered essentially harmless. However, it is a soluble calcium salt and may be harmful when taken in large doses.
storage
Calcium acetate should be stored in a sealed bottle and kept in an anhydrous state. The hydrated form can be stored in any bottle or container.
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Because of its low toxicity, it is safe to pour down the drain or into the trash.
Is calcium acetate safe in food?
Calcium acetate has a variety of food uses in the United States and around the world. Calcium acetate is generally considered safe in the United States
What does calcium acetate do for your body?
Calcium acetate is used to control high blood phosphate levels in people with kidney disease who receive dialysis (a drug treatment that cleans the blood when the kidneys are not working properly). Calcium acetate belongs to a class of drugs called phosphate binders.
