The snowstorm that swept a major part of the US last weekend—and the first heavy accumulation in many years —is a reminder of yet another way chemistry touches our lives. Managing a busy public sidewalk in a snowstorm is a race against time. One must shovel the path before it is trod upon by pedestrians, who compress the snow into ice under their heavy feet. If action comes too late, one must deal with a trail of icy footprints that don’t yield easily to plastic shovels. One must resort to chemical remedy. Of the many options, the most satisfying in the opinion of C&EN’s business team is calcium chloride. The chemical is strongly exothermic when it comes into contact with water, and that heat melts the ice almost immediately. Footprints gone. One big calcium chloride business recently changed hands. Earlier this month, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway completed its 9. 7 billion purchase of Occidental Chemical. OxyChem makes Peladow brand calcium chloride, which last year celebrated its 75th anniversary. The name Peladow might offer a clue to who owned the business before OxyChem did. Indeed, Dow established the business in Midland, Michigan, back in 1950 and sold it to Oxy in 2008. Interested in something to curl up with on a snowbound day? You might try The funds that fueled chemistry, a collaboration between C&EN’s Chris Gorski and illustrator Ryan Ignaza. Questions? Comments? Tips? Email Alex Tullo, C&EN’s senior correspondent for business, at aₜullo@acs. orgTop stories from C&ENVioneo moves polymer project from Antwerp to ChinaVioneo is scrapping plans
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