Clare Witt Chemistry Period

Calcium Carbonate

Calcium Carbonate, or CaCO3, is one of mans most useful metals. Its color is a silvery
white and can be made into a white powder. It makes up things such as shells, chalk, Limestone,
Marble, and is even used to help bone growth. It can be used for health or industrial purposes. It
is found in sea shells, paper, plastics, paints, coatings, pills, Limestone, and Marble. On the
Periodic Table, Calcium Carbonate is in the fourth period and second group, which means it falls
under Alkaline Earth Metal. Its symbol is Ca, its atomic number is 20, and its atomic weight is
40.078. Its melting point is 1548 degrees Fahrenheit, boiling point is 2703 degrees Fahrenheit,
and its density of solid is 1550 kg. This metal makes up 4 percent of the earths crust and is
often mined from Limestone, Gypsum, and Fluorite. This metal was discovered by Sir
Humphrey Davy in 1808 in England. He was able to isolate the metal by extracting it from
Limestone. In 1803 John Dalton was able to say Calcium Carbonate was made of atoms and all
samples had the same combinations of atoms.
The first time, most likely, you saw Calcium Carbonate in action was in your classroom.
What was it you may ask, it was chalk. Calcium Carbonate is used in many everyday things that
you wouldnt think of, like sea shells. In fact, Calcium Carbonate helps sea animals with shells,
like oysters. Since the oceans acid levels are rising, mostly likely to double by 2100, there is a
result of more damage to ocean animals like fish. Calcium Carbonates reaction when mixed
with acid, a large or small amount, is that it produces Carbon Dioxide. Oysters are not only
protecting themselves, but putting Carbon Dioxide back into the atmosphere. This is another way
Calcium Carbonate is helping the world.
Clare Witt Chemistry Period
Calcium Carbonate is in Limestone and Marble. You can also use it as an ingredient for
cement. You can mine these to help build things, like buildings or sculptures. Many times
Limestone is decomposed to make Carbon Dioxide, Lime (and its an important ingredient in
making steel, glass, and paper). You can also crush limestone up to get a powder. This powder is
then used in food production and for medical health. It is most commonly used in a dietary
calcium supplement to help bone growth. Now its been discovered that Calcium Carbonate isnt
as helpful as milk. Its been proven that milk is actually just as good if not proven to be better
than the Calcium pills. They are even finding that too much Calcium could hurt you and give you
things like kidney stones or heart diseases, but that is only if you have too much. Dietary pills are
the only things the powder makes. Calcium Carbonate is also used in food production such as
baking powder, toothpaste, dry-mix dessert mixes, dough, and wine. It is used in many everyday
objects that you wouldnt think of. Another thing Limestone can do is create different color
Calcium Carbonate crystals. Theses crystals are created when acid water runs down Limestone,
and Carbon Dioxide is released. The crystal is double refraction which means you can see two
different images when looking at it. These crystals are often used for optical applications, like
seeing the rainbow through a glass prism.
Calcium Carbonate has many uses and is used commonly. It can help make buildings, sea
shells, and pills. It uses are endless and its a very helpful metal that will used many years to
come. Hopefully you have learned something new and see if you use Calcium Carbonate in your
everyday life.


Clare Witt Chemistry Period
Citations
Brody, Jane E. "Long and Short of Calcium and Vitamin D." The New York Times. The New
York Times, 24 Jan. 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
"Calcium." WebElements Periodic Table of the Elements. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
"Purdue Study Finds Dairy Better for Bones than Calcium carbonate." Purdue Study Finds Dairy
Better for Bones than Calcium Carbonate. Purdue University, 8 Apr. 2009. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
Quenqua, Douglas. "Oyster Shells Are an Antacid to the Oceans." The New York Times. The
New York Times, 20 May 2013. Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
"What Is Calcium Carbonate? - Industrial Minerals Association - North America." What Is
Calcium Carbonate? - Industrial Minerals Association - North America. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Feb.
2014.