My Element: Calcium

CALCIUM~ Ca



Atomic Number= 20
Mass Number= 40.08


Discovery
Used by the ancient Romans in the first century:lime was prepared as calcium oxide
Not isolated until 1808 by Sir Humphry Davy in England
He was trying to electrolyze a mixture of lime and mercuric oxide (i.e. salt) to isolate calcium













Uses
Calcium is a reducing agent in the extraction of other metals (such as uranium, zirconium, and thorium)
It's a a deoxidizer, desulfurizer, or decarbonizer for various ferrous (materials high in iron) and nonferrous alloys
Making cements and motars for construction
















Relevant Facts
Calcium is a soft, grey metallic element
It burns with a yellow-red flame and forms a white nitride coating when exposed to air
It reacts with water, displacing hydrogen and forming calcium hydroxide
40Ca is the most abundant isotope
Calcium is essential for good health, including muscle contraction, oocyte activation, bone and teeth stucture, blood clotting, regualting heartbeat, fluid balance within cells and nerve impulse transmission
It is essential for mintaining total body health


Interesting Facts
Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the Earth's crust
The most common metal in many animals
Essential for living organisms
Used as a reducing agent in the extraction of thorium, zirconium, and uranium
It's the most plentiful mineral in the human body


Sources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/calcium
http://calciuminfo.com/
http://chemlab.pc.maricopa.edu/periodic/ca.html
http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/calcium.asp#h6