How to remove scale with white vinegar

White vinegar is one of the essential condiments in the kitchen. It not only has a seasoning effect, but also has a powerful effect on removing scale. The main ingredient in white vinegar is acetic acid, which can regulate the body's metabolism. The main component of scale is calcium carbonate. Acetic acid can undergo a double decomposition reaction with calcium carbonate or magnesium hydroxide to generate new water-soluble salt, thereby removing scale. The following is a detailed introduction to the method of acetic acid descaling.

From my personal experience , white vinegar can really remove scale from electric kettles. It is safe and reliable! You don't need to buy any descaling agents. Pour half a cup of white vinegar into the kettle, dilute it with clean water to fill the kettle, soak it for 1 hour, and all the scale will be removed. If the pot is large and has a lot of scale, you can add a little more white vinegar. The first time I bought a bag of white vinegar in the supermarket and added it all in. Actually, you don’t need that much, half a bag is enough.

1. You can use a bag of white vinegar from a supermarket. One bag of white vinegar can be used twice.

2. Add half a bag of white vinegar and clean water, enough water to completely soak the scale.

3 Remember not to heat it, tap water will do. After soaking for an hour, all the scale will fall off. Just rinse the kettle twice with clean water. It will be dry, quiet, safe and reliable.

Descaling refers to the removal of scale. The main components of scale are calcium carbonate and magnesium hydroxide, which can undergo chemical changes with acids. Pour some vinegar (the main component is CH3COOH, organic acid - acetic acid) into the kettle, warm it on the fire, and the scale will be broken up. Scale can also be removed using dilute hydrochloric acid (HCl, a strong acid).

Scale formation

Water containing minerals such as calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) salts is called "hard water". River water, lake water, well water and spring water are all hard water. Tap water is river water, lake water or well water that has been sedimented, silt removed, and disinfected and sterilized. It is also hard water. The water from fresh rain or snow does not contain minerals and is “soft water”. After the water boils, part of the water evaporates, and the calcium sulfate (CaSO4, gypsum is calcium sulfate containing crystal water) that is originally insoluble precipitates. The originally dissolved calcium bicarbonate (Ca(HCO3)2) and magnesium bicarbonate (Mg(HCO3)2) decompose in boiling water, releasing carbon dioxide (CO2), and turning into insoluble calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)2) which also precipitate. This is where scale comes from. When washing clothes with hard water, the calcium and magnesium ions in the water combine with soap to form flocculent precipitates of fatty acid calcium and fatty acid magnesium. This is the origin of "tofu dregs".