From Citizendium, the Citizens' Compendium
Calcium
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| Alkaline Earth Metal:
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| Properties:
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| Metallic
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| Compounds:
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| combined with phosphate to form hydroxylapatite, oxide (lime), carbonate, nitrate, sulfide, chloride, carbide, cyanamide, hypochlorite
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| Uses:
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| as a reducing agent in the extraction of other metals, such as uranium, zirconium, and thorium; as a deoxidizer, desulfurizer, or decarbonizer for various ferrous and nonferrous alloys; as an alloying agent used in the production of aluminium, beryllium, copper, lead, and magnesium alloys; in the making of cements and mortars to be used in construction; in the making of cheese, where calcium ions influence the activity of rennin in bringing about the coagulation of milk.
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| Hazard:
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| flammable
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Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20.
Calcium is essential for life, particularly in cell physiology, where movement of the calcium ion Ca2+ into and out of the cytoplasm functions as a signal for many cellular processes, including neuromuscular contractions. It is also a major material used in mineralization of bones, teeth and shells.
