Lime is a general term for various naturally occurring minerals and materials derived from them, in which carbonates, oxides and hydroxides of calcium predominate. Minerals are natural compounds formed through geological processes. ... Carbonate is an anion with a charge of -2 and an empirical formula of CO32-. An aqueous solution of carbon dioxide contains a minute amount of H2CO3, called carbonic acid, which dissociates to form hydrogen ions and carbonate ions. ... Hydroxide is a functional group consisting of oxygen and hydrogen: -O−H It has a charge of 1-. The term hydroxyl group is used when the functional group -OH is counted as a substituent of an organic compound. ... General Name, Symbol, Number calcium, Ca, 20 Chemical series alkaline earth metals Group, Period, Block 2, 4, s Appearance silvery white Atomic mass 40. ...

These materials are used in large quantities as building and engineering materials (including limestone products, concrete and mortar) and as chemical feedstocks, among other uses. Lime industries and the use of many of the resulting products date from prehistoric periods in both the Old World and the New World. Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... Concrete being poured, raked and vibrated into place in residential construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ... Mortar holding weathered bricks. ... A chemical substance is any material substance used in or obtained by a process in chemistry: A chemical compound is a substance consisting of two or more chemical elements that are chemically combined in fixed proportions. ... Prehistory (Greek words προ = before and ιστορία = history) is the period of human history prior to the advent of writing (which marks the beginning of recorded history). ... The Old World consists of those parts of Earth known to Europeans, Asians, and Africans before the voyages of Christopher Columbus; it includes Europe, Asia, and Africa (collectively known as Africa-Eurasia), plus surrounding islands. ... Carte dAmérique, Guillaume Delisle, c. ...

The rocks and minerals from which these materials are derived, typically limestone or chalk, are composed primarily of calcium carbonate. They may be cut, crushed or pulverized and/or chemically altered. 'Burning' (calcination) converts them into the highly caustic material quicklime (calcium oxide, CaO) and through subsequent addition of water, into the less caustic (but still strongly alkaline) slaked lime or hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)₂), which process is called slaking of lime. Limey shale overlaid by limestone. ... The Needles,situated on the Isle Of Wight, are part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation. ... Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound, with chemical formula CaCO3. ... Calcination is the process of heating a substance to a high temperature, but below its melting or fusing point, to bring about thermal decomposition or a phase transition in its physical or chemical constitution. ... Look up caustic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Calcium oxide (CaO), commonly known as lime, quicklime or burnt lime, is a widely used chemical compound. ... Look up caustic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The common (Arrhenius) definition of a base is a chemical compound that either donates hydroxide ions or absorbs hydrogen ions when dissolved in water. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Portlandite. ...

When the term is encountered in an agricultural context, it probably refers to agricultural lime. Otherwise it most commonly means slaked lime, as the more dangerous form is usually described more specifically as quicklime or burnt lime. Agricultural lime is a soil additive made from pulverized limestone or chalk. ... Calcium hydroxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula Ca(OH)2. ... Calcium oxide (CaO), commonly known as lime or quicklime, is a widely used chemical compound. ...

See also

• Calcium hydroxide
• Gypsum - a similar mineral.
• sascab - a building and paving material (Central America).