Note 37 — Chapter XIV · THE VALENCY AND SPECIFIC HEAT OF THE METALS. MAGNESIUM. CALCIUM, STRONTIUM, BARIUM, AND BERYLLIUM

Calcium iodide may be prepared by saturating lime with hydriodic acid. It is a very soluble salt (at 20° one part of the salt requires 0·49 part and at 43° 0·35 part of water for solution), is deliquescent in the air, and resembles calcium chloride in many respects. It changes but little when evaporated, and like calcium chloride fuses when heated, and therefore all the water may be driven off by heat. If anhydrous calcium iodide be heated with an equivalent quantity of sodium in a closely covered iron crucible, sodium iodide and metallic calcium are formed (Liés-Bodart). Dumas advises carrying on this reaction in a closed space under pressure.