Why is this element important in everyday life?
It is important in everyday life because it makes up teeth, bones, cement, gravel, pearls, chalk, and shells. You are recommended to have 1000 mg per day. An excess in Ca can interfere with the absorption of other minerals. If low in Ca intake, it can cause brittle bones and you can have disease characteristics in bones, which can be Osteoporosis.
Where is this element found in nature?
Calcium is found in nature unless combined with another element. It is the most abundant mineral in the body. It is the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust and makes up 3 to 3.6% of the mass of earth's crust. It is also found in limestone and fluoride.
What are the properties of the element?
General Characteristics = A soft silvery-colored metal that reacts with other elements to form compounds. It is not very reactive. Some of the important compounds include Calcium Oxide, Calcium Carbonate, and Calcium Hydroxide.
Atomic Symbol = Ca
Period Number = 4
Group Number and Family Name =2:Alkaline Earth metals
Atomic Number =20
Atomic Mass =40.1u
Density =1.54 g/mL
Melting Point =839 +/- 2
Boiling Point =1484
Electron Configuration =Ca-1s22s22p63s23p64s2
Shorthand Notation =Ca-{Ar}4s2
Common Reactions = water and other elements to form compounds
Interesting Information =Ca is in soil. It improves conditions and balance any acidity.
Who is Cally Alkaline Earth ?
"Hi, welcome to the Element Show. Today our guest is Cally Alkaline Earth. You may know her as Calcium. Cally, tell us about your family."
"Well, Beryllium is my mom and Magnesium is my father. My brothers names are Strontium, Barium, and Radium."
"Do you have any enemies and just how abundant are you?"
"I was always taught never to react with anyone, but water really gets on my nerves. I'm the 5th most abundant in the earth and make up about 3% of earth's crust."
"Miss Cally, where do you go to work? I have also wanted to know, because rumor has it that you have something to do with my bones."
"Everyday I go to work and make everybody's bones and teeth strong. I'm essential you know."
"What do you do on your summer vacations?"
"On my summer vacation, I improve conditions of soil and balance any acidity. I also help out making cement, gravel, pearls, chalk, and shells."
"In your own words, how would you describe yourself?"
"Well, I'm a softy(Ha! Ha! Ha!)! Get it, it's a joke! Anyway, I'm a silvery-colored metal."
"I know most elements don't like to give measurements, but could you please tell me your mass and density? Everyone would like to know because you seem to be in such good physical condition."
"I have a density of 1.54 g/mL. My atomic mass is 40.1. Also, my melting point is 839 degrees C and boiling point is 1484 degrees C."
"Sometimes I see you and you seem to be very different. Could you explain that please?"
"On occasion, I change myself. Just like someone would change their hairstyle, I change my job. I've become calcium oxide, which makes up cement. I once was calcium carbonate, which is limestone. Another time I was calcium hydroxide. I was the fastest-acting compound then."
"Well, that's about all the time we have today. Cally, do you have anything else you would like to say?"
"Basically all you need to know about me is that I'm very important to you and every body."
"Thank you Cally for being on the show today. We will always remember you when we're brushing our teeth. Just kidden. I say the funniest things sometimes. Please join us next week when we interview Maggy Magnesium."
