CHEMISTRY

PROJECT
CALCIUM

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

-done by Daniel Vijayakumar

BASIC INFORMATION:
Calcium is a mineral that is essential for human health. It is
the most abundant mineral in the body and is necessary for
strong bones, healthy teeth, and other functions. Calcium
helps regulate muscle contraction, nerve impulse
transmission, and blood clotting. It is also important for the
proper functioning of enzymes and hormones. Most of the
calcium in the body is found in the bones and teeth, where it
provides structure and strength. Calcium is also found in the
blood and other body fluids, where it performs crucial
functions. The body needs a certain amount of calcium to
work properly.

Calcium’s history:
Calcium is a chemical element that has been present in the
Earth’s crust since ancient times. It was first discovered in
1787 by an English chemist Humphry Davy while investigating
the mineral calamine. He named it calcium after the Latin
word calx which means lime. Calcium is the fifth most
abundant element in the Earth's crust and is essential to all
living organisms. Throughout history, calcium has been used
in various forms such as lime, chalk, and gypsum. The ancient
Egyptians used it for making mortar and plaster, and the
ancient Greeks and Romans used it for building structures. In
the Middle Ages, calcium carbonate was used to make
whitewash and was also a component of gunpowder. Calcium
has also been used in medicine for centuries. In 18th century
England, it was used in the treatment of rickets, a disease
that causes the bones to become weak and distorted due to a
lack of vitamin D. In the 19th century, a form of calcium called
calcium lactate was used to treat digestive disorders.

The Properties of Calcium:

Calcium is an essential mineral that plays a vital role in the
functioning of the human body. It is a soft, silver-white,
alkaline earth metal, the fifth most abundant element in
Earth’s crust. Calcium has a wide variety of properties that
make it an essential element for many different processes.
First, calcium is highly reactive and forms a variety of
compounds with different elements. It combines with oxygen
to form calcium oxide, which is a key ingredient in cement,
and it can form compounds with sulfur, nitrogen, chlorine,
and fluorine. It is also a key component of calcium carbonate
found in limestone, marble, and chalk. Second, calcium is a
good conductor of electricity. It can be used to create
electrical components such as resistors and capacitors. Its
ability to conduct electricity makes it an ideal material for
electrolysis, a process used in many industries such as metal
refining. Third, calcium is a good absorber of heat and is used
to insulate buildings and other structures. It is also used in
the production of fire-resistant materials, making it an
important material for fire safety.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

Bone health: Calcium is a critical component of bone

structure and helps to keep bones strong and healthy. Muscle
function: Calcium is required for muscle contraction and
relaxation. Nerve transmission: Calcium engages in the
transmission of nerve impulses throughout the body. Blood
clotting: Calcium plays a role in the clotting of blood, which
helps to prevent excessive bleeding. Enzyme function:
Calcium is necessary for the activity of many enzymes that
engage in important biochemical reactions in the body.
Hormone secretion: Calcium engages in the release of several
hormones, including insulin, which regulates blood sugar
levels. Teeth health: Calcium is essential for the development
and maintenance of strong, healthy teeth.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

Did you know?

 Calcium is an element with atomic number 20 on the
periodic table, which means each atom of calcium has
twenty protons.
 Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the
Earth's crust, present at a level of about 3 percent in the
oceans and soil.

Why is Calcium important?

Calcium is necessary for muscles to move and for nerves to
communicate between your brain and other parts of your
body. In addition to helping blood vessels transport blood,
calcium also releases hormones that affect numerous bodily
functions. Additionally, it regulates normal heart rhythms and
nerve functions and assists in blood clotting. As well as your
heart and muscles, your nerves and muscles also require
calcium to perform properly. In addition to bone health,
calcium, and vitamin D may protect against cancer, diabetes,
and hypertension, according to some studies.

References and Bibliography:

10 Calcium Element Facts You Should Know - ThoughtCo

Calcium in diet: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia
Calcium and calcium supplements: Achieving the right
balance
Calcium, Chemical Element - structure, reaction, water, uses,
elements, examples, metal, gas (chemistryexplained.com)