Properties Uses and Facts about Calcium
What is Calcium
Calcium is classified as an alkaline earth metal, and chemically calcium is
an element. Calcium is a silver-white colored metal. The density of calcium
is 1.54 grams per cubic centimeter. Calcium is found in the solid state at
room temperature, with a melting point of 842 °C (1548 °F) and a boiling
point of 1484 °C (2703 °F). Calcium has the symbol (Ca), atomic number 20
and atomic mass 40.078 amu. Its atom has 20 electrons, 20 protons, 20
neutrons and 4 energy levels. In the
Periodic Table, calcium is located in group 2, period 4 and block (S).
Calcium was discovered by the English chemist Sir Humphrey Davy in
1808.
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| Calcium-Properties-Uses-and-Facts |
Properties of Calcium
- Calcium is a silvery-white lustrous metal.
- Calcium is a soft metal.
- When exposed to oxygen, calcium forms a layer of gray colored oxide.
- Calcium is a chemically active metal, so it is not found in pure state in nature.
- Calcium, when exposed to water, produces calcium hydroxide (CaH2O2) and hydrogen gas.
- Calcium reacts with all halogens.
- Calcium reacts with most nonmetals.
- Calcium metal is a good conductor of electricity and heat.
- When calcium metal is ignited, it burns with a very bright orange light, and produces calcium oxide (CaO) and calcium nitride (Ca3N2).
Uses of Calcium
- Calcium is used during steel production to remove impurities from iron.
- Calcium is used in the purification of thorium, zirconium and uranium metals.
- Calcium is used as an alloying agent for beryllium, copper, lead, aluminum, magnesium alloys.
- Calcium is essential for all living beings, calcium in our body is essential for the health of bones, teeth, muscles, nervous system and heart.
- Calcium is used to remove oxygen, sulfur and carbon from some alloys.
- Calcium sulfate (CaSO4) is used in the production of plaster-of-paris.
- Calcium hydro-oxide (CaH2O2) is used in the production of cement and in water treatment.
- Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) (limestone) is used in building construction.
- Calcium chloride (CaCl2) is used for the orange glow in firecrackers.
- Calcium Phosphide (Ca3P2) is used in making torpedoes.
Interesting facts about Calcium
- Calcium is the fifth most abundant element on Earth.
- Calcium is the most abundant metallic element in our body.
- 99% of the total calcium present in our body is stored in the bones and teeth.
- About 1 kg of calcium is found in the body of an adult person.
- Pure Calcium metal is produced by heating limestone with aluminum in a vacuum.
- Marble, chalk and limestone are different forms of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
- Calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] is a naturally occurring fertilizer.
Detailed Information on Some other Metals
- Gold Properties Uses and other Details
- Silver Properties Uses and Other Details
- Mercury Properties Uses and other Details
- Platinum Properties Uses and other details
- Titanium Properties Uses and other Details
- Aluminium Properties Uses and other Details
- Copper Properties Uses and Other Details
- Iron Metal Properties Uses and Other Details
- Nickel Metal Properties Uses and other Details
- Plutonium | Properties | Uses | Other Details
- Uranium | Properties | Uses | Other Details
- Lithium | Properties | Uses | Other Details
- Thorium | Properties | Uses | Facts
- Sodium Metal | Properties | Uses | Facts
- Potassium | Properties | Uses | Facts
- Beryllium | Properties | Uses | Facts
- Magnesium | Properties | Uses | Facts
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