Calcium

Calcium is a silvery white metal which is obtained by the electrolysis of molten calcium chloride. Calcium compounds have many applications; for example, calcium chloride is used extensively to dry gases as it is capable of absorbing moisture from the atmosphere. Calcium oxide (lime), produced by heating limestone, has many applications including the chemical, agricultural, construction and water industries. Calcium is an essential constituent of the human body which contains, on average, 1kg. of the element.

Symbol

Ca

Discovered

1808 by Sir Humphrey Davy in London.

Abundance

One of the most abundant metal elements on Earth (41000 ppm), but it never occurs as the pure element, the main deposits being limestone (CaCO₃ ), Dolomite (CaCO₃ .MgCO₃ ) and Gypsum (CaSO₄ .2H₂O).

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Atomic number	20		Clip
Atomic / Molecular Weight	40.078	gmol-1	Clip
Density	1530	kgm-3	Clip
Lattice constant	559	fm	Clip
Melting Point	1113	K	Clip
Boiling Point	1763	K	Clip
Tensile strength	42e6 to 60e6	Nm-2	Clip
Specific heat capacity	653	Jkg-1K-1	Clip
Bulk Modulus of Rigidity	17200000000	Nm-2	Clip
Electromotive Series	2.87	V	Clip

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See also: Periodic Table.