Calcium
Calcium is a type of substance found in nature. It is represented by the symbol Ca and has the number 20. It belongs to a group of metals called alkaline earth metals. Calcium reacts easily and forms a dark layer when it mixes with air. It shares many properties with two other substances, strontium and barium.
Calcium Element Data
| Group | 2 | Melting point | 842°C, 1548°F, 1115 K |
| Period | 4 | Boiling point | 1484°C, 2703°F, 1757 K |
| Block | s | Density (g cm−3) | 1.54 |
| Atomic number | 20 | Relative atomic mass | 40.078 |
| State at 20°C | Solid | Key isotopes | 40Ca |
| Electron configuration | [Ar]4s2 | CAS number | 7440-70-2 |
| ChemSpider ID | 4573905 | ChemSpider is a free chemical structure database | |
Also Check: Osmosis | Silver | Corrosion
Related Links: Fluorine | Isomerism | Iodine
Uses of Calcium:
- Calcium is essential for strong bones and teeth.
- It helps muscles move by carrying messages from the brain throughout the body.
- Calcium ions help cells communicate in multicellular organisms.
- It aids in releasing hormones and enzymes.
- Calcium is crucial in steelmaking and is used because it easily combines with oxygen and sulfur.
- Many calcium compounds are used in food additives and medicines.
Properties of Calcium:
- Calcium is the fifth most abundant metal in the Earth's crust (4.1%).
- Important calcium isotopes include 48Ca, 46Ca, 44Ca, 43Ca, 42Ca, and 40Ca.
- It is found in large amounts as gypsum (calcium sulfate), limestone (calcium carbonate), apatite (calcium phosphate), and fluorite (calcium fluoride).
- Calcium bicarbonate in hard water can cause deposits.
Interesting Facts About Calcium:
- Humans have known about calcium and its compounds since ancient times, known to Greeks and Romans.
- The Romans used lime (calcium oxide) in their concrete, calling it "Calx."
- In 1808, Davy was the first to isolate pure calcium.
- Once refined, calcium becomes a harder, silver-colored metal.
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Frequently Asked Questions on Calcium
Calcium is a chemical element found in nature.
The chemical formula of calcium is Ca.
Calcium reacts with water, forms oxides, burns with a bright flame, and reacts with acids.
Calcium is used in bones and teeth, in construction materials like cement, for making metal alloys, in fertilizers, and in medicine.
Pure calcium is a shiny, silvery-white metal that is soft and reacts with air and water.
Calcium is a chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20.