Anhydrous calcium chloride is an inorganic salt. It easily forms a hydrate, though not a stable one, making it useful for leaching moisture from organic solutions and dehydrating damp environments. It's useful in the construction industry, in the organic chemistry laboratory, around the house and out in the street. Use caution when handling anhydrous calcium chloride; if your hands are moist when you touch it, it can cause skin irritation.
Preventing Mildew
The mold spores that develop into that thin black or white film known as mildew can grow wherever moisture collects. Anhydrous calcium chloride absorbs moisture, denying mildew the dampness it needs to survive. Use it to dehumidify rooms prone to mildew by following the following instructions from the University of Missouri Extension.
Place some anhydrous calcium chloride granules in a perforated milk carton. Because anhydrous calcium liquefies as it absorbs water, set the milk carton on a plant-pot drainage tray or a plate to catch any drips. This will not only protect your furniture but also expose the remaining dry granules to the humidity. When nothing is left but liquid, discard and start over with fresh granules.
Boost Calcium Levels in an Aquarium
According to chemical vendor Ward Chemical, aquariums sometimes need their calcium levels replenished. Many aquarium owners use anhydrous calcium chloride for this purpose. Simplified Reef Keeping, an online resource for aquarists, suggests using anhydrous calcium chloride "with care and sparingly" and only when you need to boost calcium levels back to the desired level. For maintaining the current level, Simplified Reef Keeping recommends a clear decant of calcium hydroxide.
De-icing Pavement
One of the uses that chemical vendor Premier Chemicals lists for anhydrous calcium chloride is to de-ice concrete surfaces, such as streets, sidewalks and steps. Tim Carter, author of the nationally syndicated newspaper column "Ask the Builder," describes de-icing calcium chloride as small, rounded white pellets that can melt snow and ice at temperatures well below 0 degrees F. Exercise caution when using anhyrdrous calcium chloride because it can cause irritation if it comes into contact with moist skin. Concentrated calcium chloride can also attack concrete surfaces chemically.
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