Calcium & Magnesium

Cycle
Submitted By:
Obina Irish D.
Gerelingo Deza Grace
Bajado Genina
Pomarca Ma. Karla
 Calcium Cycle

●Calcium is chemical element with the symbol Ca and

atomic number 20. As an alkaline earth metal ,calcium is
a reactive metal that forms a dark oxide-nitride layer
when exposed to air.
Calcium is the 5th most abundant element in
Earth’s crust, present at a level of about 3% in
the oceans and soil.
The element name “calcium” comes from the
Latin word “calcis” meaning “lime”

C-Crucial C-Calcis M-Mineral

A-Abundant I-Industrial emmisions
L-Life U-Use
●Calcium is primarily present as rock, minerals or as
structural calcium built into mineral crystal lattices of
soil particles and is not readily available. Calcium can
also be added as fertilizer, lime or by-products. Water
can carry calcium into the soil through weathering and
natural dissolution.
When in the soil, most of the calcium is in an insoluble
form until it is ‘weathered off’ of minerals or when organic
matter is broken down by microbes into soluble calcium.
However, some of the calcium are held loosely or tightly
on soil’s cation exchange complex (CEC) or in the soil
solution and are available to plants and microorganism.
When animals, microorganisms, or plants decay, their
bodies decompose and the calcium is mineralized and
released back into the soil. Roots also regularly leak
minerals, sugars, and other compounds back into the soil
including calcium.
Positively charged ions (cations) adsorb to soil particles
and are termed “exchangeable ions” because they can be
exchanged by other ions present in the soil solution.
●The calcium cycle is also influenced by soil pH.
Calcium is more available to plants from a pH at 7 .0 to
8.5.

●Soils with a pH above 7.5 may contain calcium

carbonate, known as free lime.

●Calcium competes with other positively charged ions,

such as sodium (Na+1), potassium (K+1), and
magnesium (Mg+2).

●Applying too much of these positively charged ions can

decrease calcium uptake by plants as sodium ions can
replace the adsorbed calcium, damage soil structure, and
decrease calcium availability.
 Human Affects
Industrial emissions and land use have changed chemical
weathering rates and leached calcium ions out of soils,
aggravating plant and microbial community structures.

The increased acidity of the ocean waters associated with

raising atmospheric concentrations of CO2 has decreased the
saturation state of surface water with respect to calcite
minerals, causing difficulty for calcitic organisms to produce
shells and skeletons.

Pollution

Overfishing
 Calcium Steps
Step 1: Weathering away of rocks that contain
calcium carbonates/ silicates

Step 2: Calcium flows into the ocean, and stays there

for one million years

Step 3: Eventually returns to the land due to

precipitation
 Magnesium Cycle
Found in high concentrations in limestone and
marble

As rock particles weather over time, magnesium

particles are slowly released into the soil

Plants take in nutrients from soil, including

magnesium

When plants decompose magnesium particles are

released into the atmosphere (not in a gas state)
 RSPDA
Rock
Soil
Plant
Decomposition
Air
Magnesium and human
impact and dependence
We, as well as plants and animals need magnesium to
function.

Humans impact mg cycle through pollution

Example: Acid Rain depletes amount of mg in soil
Soil now cannot produce healthy plants
Causes magnesium deficiencies
 Fun facts
Magnesium is the central element of chlorophyll
Scientists can tell if a plant has a magnesium deficiency
by plants color

Mg is the basis of early life on earth

Alcohol abuse can lead to mg deficiency

Summary ;
Rocks slowly dissolve by physical and chemical
processes, carrying calcium ions into rivers and
oceans. Calcium ions (Ca2+) and magnesium
ions (Mg2+) have the same charge (+2) and
similar sizes, so they react similarly and are able
to substitute for each other in some minerals,
such as carbonates.
 Sources
https://prezi.com/ndl3mx0vtxtj/the-calcium-cycle/

http://
chemistry.about.com/od/elementfacts/a/10-calcium-fa
cts.htm

http://www.exatest.com/minerals.htm

https://prezi.com/6ped_sheurn_/magnesium-cycle/

http://
www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredient
mono-998-magnesium.aspx?activeingredientid=998&
activeingredientname=magnesium

http://www.ancient-minerals.com/magnesium-benefit
s/what-is-function