Calcium chloride is a colorless or white solid that is derived as a by-product of the manufacture of sodium carbonate (by the Solvay process) or made from reactions between hydrochloric acid and calcium carbonate. The anhydrous compound is commonly used as a drying agent as well as for many other applications. It is used in oil and gas drilling, dust control for unpaved roads, road base stabilization, ready-mix concrete acceleration, gas drying, tractor tire weighting, brine refrigeration, food preservation, plus various other industrial, agricultural, and food processing uses. In marine aquariums, its high solubility makes it useful as a source of calcium for calcifying organisms.

When spread on roads in the form of a powder or flakes, calcium chloride absorbs more than its own weight of water, forming a liquid that keeps the road wet. This characteristic makes it highly effective in settling road dust and stabilizing unpaved road surfaces. Asphalt roads are commonly treated with it because it speeds compaction when the asphalt is laid and helps to preserve the life of the road surface. Rock salt, used to de-ice roads in winter, is more effective and lasts longer when wetted with calcium chloride.

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