Question

1. What is the principal use of calcium proprionate (the calcium salt of propionic acid) based from The Merck Index?

2. What is the result of treating calcium chloride with oxalic acid?

3. Explain why oxalic acid can be a deadly poison?

Answer 1

Hi,

1) Calcium propionate (along with propionic acid and sodium propionate) is used as a preservative in bread and other baked goods. It also occurs naturally in butter and some types of cheese. It keeps bread and baked goods from spoiling by preventing mold and bacterial growth.

2) CaCl2 (aq) + H2C2O4 (aq) >> CaC2O4 (s) + 2 HCl (aq)

Calcium oxalate is the product

3) Oxalic acid has toxic effects through contact and if ingested. It is not identified as mutagenicor carcinogenic; there is a possible risk of congenital malformation in the fetus; may be harmful if inhaled, and is extremely destructive to tissue of mucous membranes and upper respiratory tract; harmful if swallowed; harmful to and destructive of tissue and causes burns if absorbed through the skin or is in contact with the eyes. Symptoms and effects include a burning sensation, cough, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, spasm, inflammation and edema of the larynx, inflammation and edema of the bronchi, pneumonitis, pulmonary edema