Calcium

The Science

ELEMENTS OF THE PERIODIC TABLE:

HISTORY

WARNING

Calcium (Atomic Number 20) is an Alkali Earth Metal with 20 proton, 20 neutrons, and 20 electrons in its original form. Since it is an Alkali Earth Metal, it's combining capacity is +2. The crystal structure of Calcium is cubic and it has an atomic mass of approximately 40 amu (40.078 amu). Just like all other Alkali Earth Metals, Calcium is highly reactive, but not as reactive as Alkali Metals. Calcium would react to water (H2O), but the reaction is not as violent as Sodium (Na)'s reaction when put in water. Calcium is a solid at room temperature, and just like all metals, is conductive. The colour of calcium (as shown in the photo above) is silvery, but it can also be found in a dull gray colour. The boiling point of calcium is 1484 °C and calcium's melting point is at 839 °C.

Calcium isn't usually found in it's pure form. Just like most other elements of the periodic table, Calcium is usually found in compounds of two or more elements. Some everyday compounds containing Calcium include milk, calcium supplements, dairy products, and even in the bones in your body. Calcium can also be found in limestone (calcium carbonate).

Calcium can be a very dangerously reactive and toxic when paired with certain elements to make certain compounds. The video below shows a reaction with Sucrose and Calcium hypochlorate. The fumes emitted by the reaction are toxic.

Calcium (Latin for "lime") is one of the elements found in the earliest periodic table discovered several thousand years ago, but it wasn't ever isolated until 1808, when an English scientist, Sir Humphry Davy became the first to isolate calcium and was credited as the discoverer of the element.

Common Compounds

Sir Humphry Davy

Bibliography: Chemwiki.comChemicalelements.comCalcium by John Farndon

By Wilson Jiang and Steven Wang