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Table of Contents
Calcium is the mineral that people most commonly associate with having healthy bones and teeth. Its name comes from the Latin word ‘calx,’ which literally translates to lime. In the order of the periodic table, it is the twentieth element, and its atomic mass is 40 u.
See the fact file below for more information on Calcium, or you can download our 30-page Calcium worksheet pack to utilize within the classroom or home environment.
Key Facts & Information
Discovery
- In the year 1808, Humphry Davy attempted to use electrolysis to reduce moist lime, exactly as he had previously done with sodium and potassium, but he was unsuccessful. Therefore, he experimented with a combination of lime and mercury oxide. This led to the production of an amalgam of calcium and mercury; however, this was not sufficient evidence to prove that he had discovered a new element. Davy experimented by adding more lime to the mixture, which resulted in the production of a greater quantity of the amalgam, which he then distilled to remove the mercury and leave only calcium.
- Although calcium compounds have been known for millennia, their chemical composition was not recognized until the 17th century. Around 7000 BC, people were using lime both as a construction material and as a plaster for statues. Lime was also utilized in cooking. The first lime kiln to ever be dated back to 2500 BC was discovered in Khafajah, which is located in Mesopotamia. These lime-based materials and kilns were the historical equivalent of the cement used today, which is composed of calcium.
- Lime, also known as calcium oxide (CaO), is a valuable mineral that may be produced by heating limestone. Lime has been used for making plaster and mortar for ages.
- Calcium is a soft, white metal that oxidizes quickly in the air and interacts with water. It has a bluish-gray appearance.
- It is the third most common metal on the planet, after iron and aluminum, and the fifth most abundant element in the crust of the Earth. Calcium carbonate is the most prevalent form of calcium on Earth. You may find it in limestone and the fossilized remains of early sea life. Gypsum, anhydrite, fluorite, and apatite are also good sources of calcium.
CHEMISTRY
- Calcium is the 20th element in the modern periodic table. It has an atomic weight of 40.078 u and is found on the βSβ block along with Hydrogen, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, etc., in the 2nd group and 4th period. It is the least dense element in its group of only 1.54g cmβ3. A solid-state calcium element is found when it is at a temperature of 68F, while its boiling and melting points are 2703F and 1548F, respectively.
- Calcium, generally, is not found as it is in nature. It is always in a compound form and must first be separated in order to get it pure. Here are some of the most common calcium compounds:
- Calcium phosphates are quite common in nature and can be found in a few different forms. They are the primary minerals used in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers and a wide variety of other phosphorus-based chemicals.
- Calcium oxide, often known as lime or, more particularly, quicklime, is a solid that is white to grayish-white in color and is made in vast amounts by roasting calcium carbonate in order to drive off carbon dioxide. The chemical formula for calcium oxide is CaO. Portable heat sources sometimes take advantage of the reaction that occurs when quicklime is combined with water. Limelights produce an extremely bright white light when a block of calcium oxide is heated to incandescence in an oxyhydrogen flame. This process is known as “limelighting.”
- Calcium carbide, CaC2, also known as carbide or calcium acetylide, is colorless when it is pure. This solid decomposes in water, forming combustible acetylene gas and calcium hydroxide. Calcium carbide is a chemical compound with the formula CaC2.
- The reaction of water with calcium oxide results in the formation of calcium hydroxide, also known as slaked lime (Ca(OH)2). Calcium hydroxide is a component of mortars, plasters, and cement, in addition to having other use as an industrial alkali. The production of kraft paper and the treatment of sewage both make use of it in various capacities.
- CaSO4 is the chemical formula for calcium sulfate, which is a calcium salt that occurs naturally. Gypsum is the common name for the substance when it is in its dihydrate form, CaSO42H2O, which is a white or colorless powder. Tile, wallboard, lath, and a variety of plasters are all made with calcined gypsum as an ingredient. Plaster of Paris is the name given to the substance that is produced when the mixture is subjected to additional heating.
DID YOU KNOW?
- This element is necessary for the proper nutrition of both animals and plants. Calcium is involved in a wide variety of biological events, some of which are the formation of skeletal systems, the signaling between cells, and the regulation of muscle activity. Shells are made of calcium, typically in the form of calcium carbonate, and are utilized by mollusks like snails and shellfish.
- Calcium salts are typically what gives fireworks their distinctive burnt orange hue.
- Calcium can only be absorbed by the body if vitamin D is present in sufficient amounts. Calcium aids in the formation and maintenance of bones, while vitamin D enables your body to absorb calcium more efficiently. Together, these two nutrients contribute to bone health and protection. Therefore, even if you consume an adequate amount of calcium, it may be pointless if you do not have sufficient levels of vitamin D.
CALCIUM AS A SUPPLEMENT
- Two different mechanisms supply the body with the calcium it requires. One way to obtain calcium is through the consumption of foods or supplements that contain calcium, and another way is through the utilization of calcium that is already present in the body. If a person does not consume enough amount of foods that are high in calcium, their body will pull calcium from their bones. It is desirable that the calcium that is “borrowed” from the bones will, at some point in the future, be replaced.
- Approximately 99% of the body’s calcium is located in the bones, with the remaining 1% being distributed throughout the blood, muscle, and other tissues.
- Calcium intake should not exceed the Recommended Dietary Allowance, which is 1,000 milligrams per day for women ages 19 to 50 and 1,200 milligrams for women 51 and older. The recommended daily allowance for men ages 19β70 is 1,000 mg, whereas the RDA for men 71 and beyond is 1,200 mg.
- Calcium is found in a wide variety of foods, not simply milk and other dairy products like cheese and yogurt. Fruits, vegetables with leafy greens, beans and nuts, as well as some vegetables that are starchy, are all healthy sources. These include Milk, Cheese, Yogurt, Tofu, Canned sardines, Canned salmon, Salmon, Almonds, Spinach, Kale, Collard greens, Mulberry, Sweet Potato, etc.
- Calcium is a mineral that is most commonly linked with healthy bones and teeth, but it also plays a crucial role in blood clotting, muscular contraction, and maintaining proper heart rhythms and neuron activities.
HEALTH CONCERNS
- The 19th century saw the beginning of the practice of using calcium supplements for medical purposes. It is considered an essential medicine by the World Health Organization and is included on their list. A generic version of the medicine is currently on the market. More than one million prescriptions were written for it in the United States in 2017, placing it at the 262nd spot on the list of the most often prescribed medications.
Bone Health
- Calcium supplements are not required for healthy persons to keep their bone mineral density at a healthy level, and taking them comes with hazards that outweigh any potential advantages. There is no significant correlation between calcium consumption and the incidence of hip fractures in either males or females. Calcium and vitamin D are two nutrients that should not be used in the form of a daily supplement, according to the United States Preventive Services Task Force. According to a review that was conducted in 2006, the use of supplemental calcium in one’s diet is not warranted, despite the fact that calcium supplementation led to a very modest increase in bone mineral density in otherwise healthy youngsters.
Cancer
- Calcium supplements are not recommended by the National Cancer Institute in the United States for the purpose of reducing the risk of developing cancer. It is possible that taking calcium supplements could have a prophylactic impact against the development of colorectal adenomatous polyps; nevertheless, the evidence is insufficient to encourage taking such supplements.
Cardiovascular Impact
- There is compelling evidence to suggest that adults who do not have a condition that causes high blood pressure can benefit from a modest reduction in blood pressure when they take a calcium supplement ranging from 1,000 mg to 1,500 mg on a daily basis. This finding lends credence to the notion that maintaining adequate calcium levels could play a part in avoiding the development of high blood pressure.
Risks
- Hypocalcemia, commonly known as calcium deficiency illness, occurs when calcium levels in the blood are low. Long-term calcium insufficiency can cause dental problems, cataracts, brain changes, and osteoporosis, which causes brittle bones. Early signs of calcium insufficiency may be undetectable.
- An excessive amount of calcium in the blood can cause kidney stones, brittle bones, and disrupt the normal functioning of both the heart and the brain. In most cases, hypercalcemia is the consequence of hyperactive parathyroid glands. These four very small glands can be seen in the neck, close to where the thyroid gland is located. It has the potential to disrupt the normal working of the kidneys, raise the pH level of the blood, produce nausea and vomiting, disorientation, changes in thinking or mentation, itching, and in severe cases, an irregular heartbeat.
Calcium Worksheets
This is a fantastic bundle that includes everything you need to know about Calcium across 30 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use worksheets that are perfect for teaching kids about Calcium, which is a mineral that people most commonly associate with having healthy bones and teeth.
Complete List of Included Worksheets
Below is a list of all the worksheets included in this document.
- Calcium Facts
- Came from Calcium
- Calcium-Rich Dinner
- Unscramble Me
- Get to Know Me
- The Calcium Family
- Fact or False
- Calcium as a Builder
- Calcium Matters
- Careful of Calcium
- Too Much or Too Little
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Link will appear as Calcium Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 14, 2022
Use With Any Curriculum
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