Descaling a kettle
Descaling a coffee machine
What is lime scale?
Lime scale is a chalky white crust that is often built up on kettles and washing machines. The chemical name for lime scale is calcium carbonate, chemical formula CaCO3. It is usually caused by hard water (Water containing a higher than normal concentration of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium). http://www.purewaterpeople.co.uk/blog/2013/06/what-is-limescale/ How is lime scale formed?
Lime scale is built up over a long period of time. When hard water evaporates the calcium carbonate deposits are left behind and over time they start building up. Lime scale can also be formed when water is heated because the calcium and magnesium bicarbonates break down into less soluble carbonates. These then start to build up and form lime scale. The most common area for lime scale to build up is the kitchen and the bathroom on taps, dishwashers, mirrors, pipes and kettles. http://www.wessexwater.co.uk/customers/threecol.aspx?id=1354 How to get rid of lime scale
There are many methods out there to get rid of lime scale and prevent it, some of the most common methods include using ethanoic acid(chemical formula C2H4O2), citric acid(chemical formula C6H8O7) and sulfamic acid(chemical formula H3NSO3).
http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.171.html http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.305.html http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.5767.html
Ethanoic Acid as a descaler
Ethanoic acid is usually found in vinegar. It is a weak acid which will dissolve the lime scale with one ionising proton which reacts with calcium carbonate to produce calcium acetate and carbon dioxide. Ethanoic acid is non-toxic and since it is usually found in vinegar it is easily available and very cheap. On the other hand Ethanoic acid is the least effective out of the three which means it is also the slowest. It also has a very appalling smell and can affect the taste of coffee or tea made in the kettle.
What is lime scale?
Lime scale is a chalky white crust that is often built up on kettles and washing machines. The chemical name for lime scale is calcium carbonate, chemical formula CaCO3. It is usually caused by hard water (Water containing a higher than normal concentration of dissolved minerals such as calcium and magnesium). http://www.purewaterpeople.co.uk/blog/2013/06/what-is-limescale/ How is lime scale formed?
Lime scale is built up over a long period of time. When hard water evaporates the calcium carbonate deposits are left behind and over time they start building up. Lime scale can also be formed when water is heated because the calcium and magnesium bicarbonates break down into less soluble carbonates. These then start to build up and form lime scale. The most common area for lime scale to build up is the kitchen and the bathroom on taps, dishwashers, mirrors, pipes and kettles. http://www.wessexwater.co.uk/customers/threecol.aspx?id=1354 How to get rid of lime scale
There are many methods out there to get rid of lime scale and prevent it, some of the most common methods include using ethanoic acid(chemical formula C2H4O2), citric acid(chemical formula C6H8O7) and sulfamic acid(chemical formula H3NSO3).
http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.171.html http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.305.html http://www.chemspider.com/Chemical-Structure.5767.html
Ethanoic Acid as a descaler
Ethanoic acid is usually found in vinegar. It is a weak acid which will dissolve the lime scale with one ionising proton which reacts with calcium carbonate to produce calcium acetate and carbon dioxide. Ethanoic acid is non-toxic and since it is usually found in vinegar it is easily available and very cheap. On the other hand Ethanoic acid is the least effective out of the three which means it is also the slowest. It also has a very appalling smell and can affect the taste of coffee or tea made in the kettle.