Is the scale in the electric kettle toxic?

The presence of scale in electric kettles is a problem that many people have encountered, and many people believe that scale is toxic. In fact, although scale is harmful to human health, it is not toxic. The content of heavy metals in scale is relatively high. Regular intake of heavy metals is harmful to various organs of the human body. Below, I will introduce you to the relevant knowledge about scale in detail!

1. The harm of scale

Electric kettles used for boiling water need to be descaled regularly, because scale affects heat transfer, and too much scale may cause explosions due to uneven local heating. Strictly speaking, scale is harmful to the human body, but it is definitely acceptable to the human body and will not cause any specific harm. However, the scale that has accumulated over a long period of time contains a lot of sediment, and is accompanied by trace metal elements produced in the water boiling container, including heavy metals such as lead, zinc, and arsenic, which are harmful to the human body.

2. Formation of scale

After the water boils, part of the water evaporates, and the calcium sulfate (CaSO4, gypsum is calcium sulfate containing water of crystallization) 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, and sometimes MgCO3 is also generated. This is how scale is formed.

3. Methods of scale removal

Method 1: Baking soda removal method

After using the electric kettle for a period of time, there is an obvious circle of scale at the bottom. Take half a tablespoon of baking soda and mix it with water to make a paste. Use a clean, oil-free cloth and dip it in baking soda. Use a cloth dipped in baking soda to rub the scale areas in the electric kettle back and forth a few times. The scale on the wiped area is obviously gone. Then rinse it with clean water and check whether the scale at the bottom of the electric kettle has disappeared and the kettle is as bright as new. After cleaning, boil a pot of water to disinfect it, and boil it a second time before drinking.

Method 2: Eggshell removal method

There is another method which is directly from the folks, but it is not as clean as method one. However, you can try it. Just crush the eggshells of the eggs you often eat, and then put them directly into an electric kettle filled with about one third of water, and then shake it. After that, the substances in the eggs will naturally absorb the scale and clean it.