UK Names for distilling ingredients/equipment

[Manc]

After a recent welcome post it became apparent that some items in the UK are called by different names maybe there's more out there that will make our lives easier.

I'd like to kick it off with cracked corn in the UK at farm/animal feed stores it is called split maize.

Also for calcium carbonate I use lime powder it cost £2 for 2kg again from feed stores you can also use oyster shells but my water is soft and the lime powder works quicker.

Hope these help

Lee

[Expat]

Also for calcium carbonate I use lime powder it cost £2 for 2kg again from feed stores you can also use oyster shells but my water is soft and the lime powder works quicker.

Careful there.

Calcium carbonate and Lime (calcium hydroxide) aren't just different names, they're different chemicals with very different levels of reactivity. While they do accomplish similar results, there should be very different handling and safety involved.

[Manc]

Also for calcium carbonate I use lime powder it cost £2 for 2kg again from feed stores you can also use oyster shells but my water is soft and the lime powder works quicker.

Careful there.

Calcium carbonate and Lime (calcium hydroxide) aren't just different names, they're different chemicals with very different levels of reactivity. While they do accomplish similar results, there should be very different handling and safety involved.

Thanks Expat

Please expand if you don't mind I've been using it for a while now what should I be careful of.

Lee

[NZChris]

For chemical handling advice, it's better to Google a Safety Data Sheet than to ask forum members.

[Expat]

Sure.

Calcium Hydroxide ( Ca(OH)2 ) has a PH of 12.4 and Calcium Carbonate ( CaCO3 ) has a PH of 9.91, that is to say both are Base (as opposed to being acid). That's roughly 2.5 PH higher and the scale of PH is base10 logarithmic which means that Calcium Hydroxide is something more than 100 times stronger.

When dealing with any acid or base that strong there is a risk of chemical burn if it gets on your skin, or worse something like your eyes or lungs.

Edit: As NZChris says, its worth looking up.

[Manc]

Thanks for the info Expat and I've now looked it up Chris.

This is why I love this forum always something new to learn

Lee