WebElements Periodic Table » Calcium » the essentials (2024)

• Name: calcium
• Symbol: Ca
• Atomic number: 20
• Relative atomic mass (Ar): 40.078 (4) g [see note g]
• Standard state: solid at 298 K
• Appearance: silvery white
• Classification: Metallic

• Group in periodic table: 2
• Group name: Alkaline earth metal
• Period in periodic table: 4
• Block in periodic table: s
• Shell structure: 2.8.8.2
• CAS Registry: 7440-70-2

Calcium as the element is a grey silvery metal. The metal is rather hard. Calcium is an essential constituent of leaves, bones, teeth, and shells. Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the earth's crust and makes up more than 3% of the crust. Calcium does not occur as the metal itself in nature and instead is found in various minerals including as limestone, gypsum and fluorite. Stalagmites and stalactites contain calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). Calcium carbonate is the basis of the cement industry.

Calcium is classified chemically as one of the alkaline earth elements (that is, in Group 2 of the periodic table. The metal is rather reactive. It readily forms a white coating of calcium nitride (Ca₃N₂) in air. It reacts with water and the metal burns with a yellow-red flame, forming largely the nitride.

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Calcium: physical properties

• Density of solid: 1550kg m^-3
• Molar volume: 26.20cm³
• Thermal conductivity: 200Wm^‑1K^‑1

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Calcium: heat properties

• Melting point: 1115 [842°C (1548°F)]K
• Boiling point: 1757 [1484°C (2703°F)]K
• Enthalpy of fusion: 20.5kJ mol^-1

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Calcium: atom sizes

• Atomic radius (empirical): 180pm
• Molecular single bond covalent radius: 171 (coordination number 2)ppm
• van der Waals radius: 262ppm

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Calcium: electronegativities

• Pauling electronegativity: 1.00 (Pauling units)
• Allred Rochow electronegativity: 1.04 (Pauling units)
• Mulliken-Jaffe electronegativity: 1.08 (sp orbital)

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Calcium: orbital properties

• First ionisation energy: 589.83kJmol^‑1
• Second ionisation energy: 1145.45kJmol^‑1
• Third ionisation energy: 4912.37kJmol^‑1

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Calcium: abundances

• Universe: 70000ppb by weight
• Crustal rocks: 50000000ppb by weight
• Human: 14000000ppb by weight

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Calcium: crystal structure

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Calcium: biological data

• Human abundance by weight: 14000000ppb by weight

Calcium is essential for all life. It forms part of cell walls and bones. It is important for blood clotting.

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Calcium: uses

Uses...

Calcium: reactions

Reactions of calcium as the element with air, water, halogens, acids, and bases where known.

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Calcium: binary compounds

Binary compounds with halogens (known as halides), oxygen (known as oxides), hydrogen (known as hydrides), and other compounds of calcium where known.

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Calcium: compound properties

Bond strengths; lattice energies of calcium halides, hydrides, oxides (where known); and reduction potentials where known.

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Calcium: history

Calcium was discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808 at England. Origin of name: from the Latin word "calx" meaning "lime".

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Calcium: isotopes

Calcium isotopes (mainly Ca-42, Ca-44, Ca-46 and Ca-48) are used extensively in clinical research and mainly in nutritional studies. They are used to measure calcium absorption mainly in women and children. In adults, calcium deficiency is strongly related to increasing severity of osteoporosis. In children, calcium deficiency is primarily related to the development of rickets. Ca-48 has been used to bombard Pb and Bi targets in order to create super heavy elements.

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Calcium: isolation

Isolation: calcium metal is readily available commercially and there is no need to make it in the laboratory. Commercially it can be made by the electrolysis of molten calcium chloride, CaCl₂.

cathode: Ca²⁺(l) + 2e^- → Ca

anode: Cl^-(l) → ¹/₂Cl₂ (g) + e^-

The calcium chloride is made by the action of hydrochloric acid upon calcium carbonate. Calcium chloride is also a byproduct in the Solway process used to make sodium carbonate.

CaCO₃ + 2HCl → CaCl₂ + H₂O + CO₂

Alternatively, and on small scale, calcium can be made through the reduction of CaO with aluminium or of CaCl₂ with sodium metal

6CaO + 2Al→ 3Ca + Ca₃Al₂O₆

CaCl₂ + 2Na→ Ca + 2NaCl