Hydroxide
The solubility in water of the other hydroxides in this group increases with increasing atomic number. Magnesium hydroxide Mg(OH) is a strong base (up to the limit of its solubility, which is very low in pure water), as are the hydroxides of the heavier alkaline earths: calcium hydroxide, strontium hydroxide, and barium hydroxide. A solution or suspension of calcium hydroxide is known as limewater and can be used to test for the weak acid carbon dioxide. The reaction Ca(OH) + CO Ca + + OH illustrates the basicity of calcium hydroxide. Soda lime, which is a mixture of the strong bases NaOH and KOH with Ca(OH), is used as a CO absorbent.
Osmium tetroxide
Osmium(VIII) oxide forms monoclinic crystals. It has a characteristic acrid chlorine-like odor. The element name osmium is derived from "osme", Greek for "odor". OsO is volatile: it sublimes at room temperature. It is soluble in a wide range of organic solvents. It is also moderately soluble in water, with which it reacts reversibly to form osmic acid (see below). "Pure" osmium(VIII) oxide is probably colourless and it has been suggested that its yellow hue is due to osmium dioxide (OsO) impurities. The osmium tetroxide molecule is tetrahedral and therefore non-polar. This nonpolarity helps OsO penetrate charged cell membranes. OsO is 518 times more soluble in carbon tetrachloride than in water.