A white crystalline oxide used in the production of calcium hydroxide; SYN. quicklime, lime, calx, calcined lime, fluxing lime, unslaked lime, burnt lime.
Or quicklime; CaO white solid compound, formed by heating calcium carbonate.
CaCO3 ® CaO + CO2
When water is added it forms calcium hydroxide (slaked lime) in an exothermic reaction.
CaO + H2O ® Ca(OH)2
It is a typical basic oxide, turning litmus blue.