calcium [Ca]

Introduction

From the Latin clax meaning lime. Romans used lime dating at least as far back of 100 AD Isolated by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808.

Occurrence

• 5th most abundant element in earth's crust
• found only in combination

Characteristics

• silver-white bivalent metallic element of the alkaline-earth group
• reacts vigorously with air or water

Uses

see Ca+2

More general terms

• alkaline earth metal

Additional terms

• Ca+2
• periodic table

Database

• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=272
• PubChem: http://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/summary/summary.cgi?cid=271