Calcium

calcium
It is a chemical element with the element symbol Ca and atomic number 20. calcium is the fifth most common element in the earth’s shell after oxygen, silicon, aluminium and iron in terms of mass. Due to its strong reactivity, calcium only occurs chemically bound as a component of minerals. These include, for example

It is an essential component of bones and teeth.

Occurrence

An exception is probably a variety of fluorite, in whose crystal lattice colloidal calcium was probably formed by natural radioactive radiation. Calcium-containing minerals such as calcite and gypsum are present in large quantities. Calcium compounds are water-soluble, whereby the solubility of calcium in groundwater is essentially determined by the excess of carbonic acid. As a calcium compound, calcite and gypsum predominate at medium to alkaline pH values.

At low pH, calcium occurs as Ca2+. As an essential component of living matter, calcium is involved in the formation of leaves, bones, teeth and mussels.

Partially oxidized calcium

Calcium is softer than lead, but cannot be cut with a knife. It reacts violently with water to form calcium hydroxide and hydrogen. Calcium belongs to the alkaline earth metals.

Actually, it is almost entirely on the left side of this equation, but this production process still works, because the resulting calcium constantly evaporates at this temperature and thus disappears from the equilibrium. The calcium is purified by distillation.

Use of calcium

The technical use of calcium is mainly in bound form. Limestone and dolomite CaMg2 is used as a building material.