Calcium Chloride

Calcium chloride occurs as a white or colorless crystalline powder, granules, or crystalline mass, and is hygroscopic (deliquescent).

Nonproprietary Names

• BP: Calcium Chloride Dihydrate

       Calcium Chloride Hexahydrate

• JP: Calcium Chloride Hydrate

       PhEur: Calcium Chloride Dihydrate       

Calcium Chloride Hexahydrate

• USP-NF: Calcium Chloride

Note that the JP XV and USP32–NF27 monographs list the dehydrate form.

Synonyms

Calcii chloridum dihydricum; calcii chloridum hexahydricum.

Chemical Name and CAS Registry Number

• Calcium chloride anhydrous [10043-52-4]
• Calcium chloride dihydrate [10035-04-8]
• Calcium chloride hexahydrate [7774-34-7]

Empirical Formula and Molecular Weight

• CaCl₂ 110.98 (for anhydrous)
• CaCl₂.2H₂O 147.0 (for dihydrate)
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• CaCl₂.6H₂O 219.1 (for hexahydrate)

Functional Category: Antimicrobial preservative; therapeutic agent; water-absorbing agent.

Applications in Pharmaceutical Formulation or Technology

The main applications of calcium chloride as an excipient relate to its dehydrating properties and, therefore, it has been used as an antimicrobial preservative, as a desiccant, and as an astringent in eye lotions. Therapeutically, calcium chloride injection 10% (as the dehydrate form) is used to treat hypocalcemia.

Method of Manufacture: Calcium chloride is a principal byproduct from the Solvay process.