| Calcium |
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| Atomic Number - | 20 | Melting Point (°C,°F) - | 842 °C, 1548 °F |
| Atomic Symbol - | Ca | Boiling Point (°C,°F) - | 1484 °C, 2703 °F |
| Atomic Mass - | 40.08 | Electron Configuration - | [Ar] 4s2 |
| Group - | 2 | Electrons Per Shell - | 2, 8, 8, 2 |
| Period - | 4 | Protons - | 20 |
| Series - | Alkaline Earth Metals | Neutrons - | 20 |
| Block - | d-block | | |
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Element Description - Calcium is a chemical element in the periodic table that has the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. Calcium is a soft grey alkaline earth metal that is used as a reducing agent in the extraction of thorium, zirconium and uranium. Calcium is also the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust. It is essential for living organisms, particularly in cell physiology, and is the most common metal in many animals. |
Element Characteristics - Calcium is a rather soft, grey metallic element that is purified by electrolysis from calcium fluoride. 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.
Calcium is essential in muscle contraction, building strong bones and teeth, blood clotting, nerve impulse transmission, regulating heartbeat, and fluid balance within cells.
- 50%-75% of calcium comes from the dairy intake in daily diets.
- Most Americans do not consume the 1,200 mg of calcium per day that is needed.
The Calcium-40 isotope has a nucleus of 20 Protons and 20 Neutrons. Calcium has 20 electrons distributed as follows: 2 in the K shell (principal quantum number 1), 8 in the L shell (principal quantum number 2), 8 in the M shell (principal quantum number 3), and 2 in the N shell (principal quantum number 4). The outer shell is the valence shell, with 2 electrons in the lone 4s orbital, the 3 p orbitals being empty. See also electron configuration.
Calcium cannot be found alone in nature. Calcium is found mostly as limestone, gypsum and fluorite. Stalagmites and stalactites contain calcium carbonate. |
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