Calcined

Calcined describes a substance, typically a solid, that has been heated to a high temperature but below its melting point, with the purpose of driving off volatile substances, such as moisture, carbon dioxide, or other gaseous compounds, and causing a physical or chemical change. This process alters the material's properties, often making it more porous, stronger, or more chemically reactive. The calcination process is crucial in industries such as ceramics, metallurgy, and the production of cement and lime. The resulting product is often significantly different from the original material, exhibiting altered color, structure, and composition.

Calcined meaning with examples

• The ancient potters meticulously calcined clay to remove water and organic matter, making it more durable and less susceptible to cracking during firing. The heat treatment transformed the raw material into a sturdy and functional vessel, a testament to their mastery of the process. The final step was to glaze and fire the calcined pots to perfection.
• In metal processing, iron ore is calcined to remove impurities, primarily water and carbon dioxide, prior to smelting. This pre-treatment concentrates the valuable iron oxides and reduces the energy required for the subsequent smelting operations. It optimizes efficiency in metal production. The calcined ore becomes more efficient at extracting iron.
• Lime, a crucial ingredient in cement, is produced by **calcining** limestone. This high-temperature process decomposes the calcium carbonate into calcium oxide (lime) and carbon dioxide. The calcined lime then reacts with other materials to form the strong, binding agent known as cement. This is very crucial in construction.
• Chemists calcined a sample of calcium oxalate to convert it into calcium carbonate, releasing carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide as byproducts. This controlled thermal decomposition is a vital procedure for creating various chemicals. They carefully monitored the heating to ensure complete transformation of the calcined product.
• The jeweller carefully calcined the silver alloy to refine it, eliminating certain impurities, leading to a cleaner result. The high temperature caused a chemical reaction with the impurities that were then removed. The calcined silver was then used to create detailed jewellery.