Why is this element important in everyday life?
Calcium is an important element in everyday use all over the world. Calcium is needed as a staple in the diet of mammals because of its ability to prevent the wearing of enamel. Without Calcium ones bones would become so frail that they would be very easily broken. It helps keep teeth and hair strong and healthy. Osteoporosis is also a prevalent occurrence in older women. Their backs become hunched and distorted. Calcium is also used in the building industry. When seawater evaporates it forms a substance called gypsum. This is an inexpensive form of plaster. When it hardens it leaves wall with a very smooth and finished. Without Calcium it would be nearly impossible to live a healthy life. Another use is calcite, which forms with sparkling white crystals found on the surface near Hot Springs this is known as travertine. It was the most widely used building stone of ancient Rome.
Where is this element found in nature?
Calcium is never found on its own in nature because it reacts so easily with other elements. It is found in both solid and liquid states. Depending on where it is found it varies from a clear color to an unmistakable sparkling white. Calcium is a reactive metal included as part of the alkine earth metals. Calcium is found in many areas around the world, but it is most prevalent in Hot Springs such as Turkey and Mammoth in WY. Here the Calcium forms beautiful stepped pools of travertine. The streaks are other minerals in the mud.
What are the properties of the element?
General Characteristics =
Calcium has many unique properties. It is a soft silvery colored metal. In labs in can be found in small pieces called pellets. This is an easy way to show how it reacts with water. The most common compound of Calcium is limestone, Calcium carbonate. This makes crystals. These particular forms of the element can be found all over the world. Calcium also has a pure and completely transparent version of calcite Iceland spar was created when Calcium formed in cavities in solidified lava. When one looks at Iceland Spar one can see double because it has a property of showing two images of anything you see by it. Calcium carbonate is less stable in hot water than cold; it is often precipitated around many hot springs. It also dissolves many rocks.
Atomic Symbol = Ca
Period Number = #4
Group Number and Family Name = Group #2 and Family name Alkaline Earth Metal
Atomic Number = 20
Atomic Mass =40.08
Density =1.55
Melting Point =839 degrees
Boiling Point =1,484 degrees
Electron Configuration =1s2 2s22p63s23p64s23d1
Shorthand Notation =Ca[AR] 4s2 3d104p65s2
Common Reactions =Calcium reacts with any element it comes into contact with. It is so easily combined that it is never found in nature on its own. Some of the more common reactions include limestone and calcium carbonate theses form crystals. It also reacts with raremetals, mud, ice, and seawater.
Interesting Information =
Calcium is found all over the world and has such a wide variety of uses in everyone's lives
Calcium is used for building, in diets, for enjoyment in nature and can have many different forms, shapes and colors. It forms crystals and was used in buildings in ancient Rome.
Who is Calcium?
As Sally lay in bed, slowly dozing off, she heard her mother's words echoing in the back of her mind. "Go to you room, if you don't drink that milk you'll become weak and frail, and you won't be able to enjoy life latter on." "You just go upstairs and think about that." The next thing she knew Sally was in a training camp, there were many other kids in line her age. They were standing in lines exercising. There were many elements that aid in the body as the head of the assigned group. Sally was placed in the Calcium group. "Stand up tall." Shouted Mr. Calcium, "What do you think this is recess? "If you kids want to be healthy adults, you need to drink milk and eat other dairy products rich in Calcium" "I'm going to go now, I need to help build the new rec hall, but I'll be back to check on you soon." The children saw this as a chance to go play. They all ran off and were having a great time until they began to pass horrific images. Quickly they tried to escape the distorted figures that encompassed them. They could no longer ignore the images, which became more clearly, with each step. They were older women who were hunched over and little kids with broken bones as a result of their frailty. This in turn changed their lives; soon they began to exercise daily and to substitute milk for the pop. They went to share the good news with Mr. Calcium, but he was no where to be found. They soon knew it was time to go home because their family missed them. On their way out of this mystical parallel universe Sally spotted Mr. Calcium with in many elements. She knew that he could be found within so many things she was around every day. She always is reminded who helped her on her way to a healthy new lifestyle.
