Calcium Oxalate Precipitation (Kidney Stones)
CaCl2 + Na2C2O4 → CaC2O4↓ + 2NaCl
Overview
Calcium chloride reacts with sodium oxalate to form a white precipitate of calcium oxalate (Ksp = 2.3 × 10⁻⁹). Calcium oxalate is the primary component of approximately 80% of kidney stones. The monohydrate form (whewellite) is thermodynamically favored and forms the hardest, most painful stones.
Participants
| Role | Substance | Coefficient | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reactant | Oxalic Acid C₂H₂O₄ | 1 | (aq) |
| Product | Sodium Chloride NaCl | 2 | (aq) |
Everyday Example
Most kidney stones are calcium oxalate crystals. Foods high in oxalate (spinach, rhubarb, almonds) can increase stone risk.
Industrial Importance
Understanding calcium oxalate precipitation is critical in nephrology, food science (oxalate content analysis), and in beer brewing (beer stone prevention).
Properties
- Type
- Precipitation
- Reversible
- No
- Energy
- Exothermic
- ΔH
- -12.0 kJ/mol
Related Reactions
Aluminum Hydroxide Precipitation
Barium Carbonate Precipitation
Barium Sulfate Precipitation
Cadmium Sulfide Precipitation (Yellow)
Calcium Carbonate Precipitation
Calcium Fluoride Precipitation (Fluorite)
Calcium Phosphate Precipitation (Bone Mineral)
Calcium Sulfate Precipitation (Gypsum)
Chromium(III) Hydroxide Precipitation
Cobalt(II) Hydroxide Precipitation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the equation for Calcium Oxalate Precipitation (Kidney Stones)?
The balanced equation is: CaCl₂ + Na₂C₂O₄ → CaC₂O₄↓ + 2NaCl.
What type of reaction is Calcium Oxalate Precipitation (Kidney Stones)?
Calcium Oxalate Precipitation (Kidney Stones) is a precipitation reaction.
Is Calcium Oxalate Precipitation (Kidney Stones) exothermic or endothermic?
Calcium Oxalate Precipitation (Kidney Stones) is exothermic (releases energy). The enthalpy change (ΔH) is -12.0 kJ/mol.