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Symbol
Ca
Atomic Number
20
Atomic Mass
40.08
Family
Group 2 (Iia) Alkaline Earth Metal Pronunciation
CAL-cee-um
Overview
Calcium is an alkaline earth metal. The alkaline earth metals make up Group 2 (IIA) of the periodic table, a chart that shows how the elements are related. They include beryllium, magnesium, strontium, barium, and radium. The alkaline earth metals are more chemically active than most metals. Only the alkali metals in Group I (IA) are more reactive.
Calcium compounds are common and abundant in the Earth's crust. Humans have used calcium compounds for hundreds of years in construction, sculpture, and roads.
Calcium metal was not prepared in a pure form until 1808 when English chemist Humphry Davy (1778-1829) passed an electric current through molten (melted) calcium chloride.
Metallic calcium has relatively few uses. However, calcium compounds are well known and widely used. They include chalk, gypsum, Limestone, marble, and plaster of paris.
Discovery and Naming
This section contains 2,690 words (approx. 9 pages at 300 words per page) |
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