Final answer:
The water content of soda lime is about 15-20%, which is suitable for it to effectively absorb CO2 while maintaining the right level of reactivity.
Step-by-step explanation:
The water content of soda lime is typically around 15-20%. Soda lime is mainly composed of calcium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide and potassium hydroxide (such as in a commercial formulation). Water is included in the soda lime to facilitate the chemical reaction that absorbs carbon dioxide (CO2) in applications like anesthesia machines and submarines. The specified range of water percentage allows soda lime to maintain its reactivity without becoming too dry or too wet.