Answer to Question #16808 in Inorganic Chemistry for Amiin

Question

An excess of calcium hydroxide is added to an acidic soil. What happens to the pH of the soil?

Answer 1

Calcium Hydroxide (or Slaked Lime) is a strong base (as are all metal hydroxides, oxides, and carbonates).A Calcium Hydroxide is a substance with a pH of 8 or more. When an acid and a base react, the result is that a salt and water is formed. This also has the effect of neutralising a substance. So slaked lime is added in order to reduce the acidity of the soil.