chloride of lime: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low / Obsolete / HistoricalTechnical (historical), Archaic
Quick answer
What does “chloride of lime” mean?
A white powder composed of calcium hypochlorite and calcium chloride, used historically as a bleaching agent and disinfectant.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A white powder composed of calcium hypochlorite and calcium chloride, used historically as a bleaching agent and disinfectant.
A chemical compound, also known as bleaching powder, once widely used for water purification, sanitation (e.g., in latrines and sewage treatment), and textile bleaching. It releases chlorine and is a precursor to modern chlorine-based disinfectants.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant modern regional difference, as the term is obsolete in both dialects. Historically, both regions used the term for the same substance.
Connotations
Connotes historical public health, military medicine (field sanitation), and early industrial processes.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary use, found primarily in historical texts, documents, or discussions of historical technology/medicine.
Grammar
How to Use “chloride of lime” in a Sentence
[to] treat something with chloride of lime[to] add chloride of lime to something[to] disinfect using chloride of limeVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chloride of lime” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The old manual specified a pound of chloride of lime per cubic yard of soil.
- Workers handled the barrels of chloride of lime with great care.
American English
- The field sanitation kit included a tin of chloride of lime.
- They used chloride of lime to decontaminate the well.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Obsolete. Might appear in historical business records of chemical or textile manufacturing.
Academic
Used in historical analyses of public health, industrial chemistry, or military history.
Everyday
Virtually never used in modern everyday conversation.
Technical
Obsolete technical term; modern technical contexts use 'calcium hypochlorite'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “chloride of lime”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “chloride of lime”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chloride of lime”
- Calling it 'chlorine lime'.
- Confusing it with 'chlorinated water' (a product of its use).
- Using it as a current technical term instead of 'calcium hypochlorite'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not under that name. The chemical (calcium hypochlorite) is still used in some bleaching and disinfectant applications, but the term 'chloride of lime' is historically specific.
Calcium hypochlorite, which releases chlorine when mixed with water, providing the bleaching and disinfecting action.
Chemical nomenclature became more precise, favouring systematic names like 'calcium hypochlorite'. Also, its use declined with the development of alternative disinfectants and bleaching agents.
Yes. It is a corrosive powder that can release toxic chlorine gas, especially when mixed with acids. It required careful handling, which is one reason it was replaced by safer, more controlled alternatives.
A white powder composed of calcium hypochlorite and calcium chloride, used historically as a bleaching agent and disinfectant.
Chloride of lime is usually technical (historical), archaic in register.
Chloride of lime: in British English it is pronounced /ˈklɔːraɪd əv laɪm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈklɔːraɪd əv laɪm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'CHLOR-ine' made from 'LIME' to create a 'CHLORIDE' compound for bleaching.
Conceptual Metaphor
SANITATION IS PURIFICATION (through chemical whiteness/bleaching).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary modern chemical name for 'chloride of lime'?