29 Calcium Carbonate Facts You Must Teach Your Kids

In one way or the other, we are all surrounded by the by-products of carbon, but we cannot simply refer to calcium carbonate as a by-product of carbon.

We are surrounded by calcium ions, and in some form or another, calcium carbonate is always around us. One of the most common forms of calcium carbonate is chalk, or coral.

There are two ways through which we can get calcium carbonate; one is naturally occurring, and the other is lab-made. Calcium carbonate is one of the most widely used elements on the earth. Apart from that, calcium carbonate is also the fifth most common element that is found in the earth's crust.

Our tooth enamel is also made from a kind of calcium phosphate. There is a popular myth that says tooth enamel is made of calcium carbonate. That is not entirely true. Human teeth are made from an amalgamation of various mineral forms. The mineral that makes human teeth is calcium, which is also very important for the human body as it directly affects bone growth. It's wise to say that calcium compounds are very important for human growth. Other minerals used for the formation of human teeth are phosphorous and sodium.

Calcium lives around us in many forms. One of them has to be the famous and well-known calcium carbonate form. Others are calcium silicates and calcium hydroxide. Not all of these forms of calcium are found inside the human body. Some forms of calcium are used for other purposes as well. One of the most famous calcium carbonate fun facts is the essence of modern architecture, which is cement is a product of calcium. Cement is made from calcium ions, and limestone is also a very important component in it. Carbonate calcium is also essential since we have started taking this calcium compound as a dietary supplement. Every so often, people require dietary supplements of carbonate calcium in order to support their bones and heart.

Industrial Applications Of Calcium Carbonate

We have all come across blackboard chalk at least once in our lives, or egg shells; these day-to-day things are made out of calcium carbonate.

• Calcium carbonate can either be produced through nature in its purest forms, such as marble or calcium carbonate deposits. The other way through which we can get calcium carbonate is by extracting it from the lab.
• Calcium, or calcium oxide, is known as one of the most widely used components in history. When considering an industrial application, calcium oxide has many uses.
• We can extract calcium carbonate by suspending carbon dioxide in a solution of carbon hydroxide.
• Due to recent advancements in technology, it is also possible to extract calcium carbonate through PCC, also known as precipitated calcium carbonate minerals.
• The usual blackboard chalk that we use is also a composing compound of sedimentary rocks. Around 20% of the rock deposits that we have today are made from limestone and these chalks.
• Calcium carbonate is found in abundance in the earth's crust! Almost 3% of the earth's crust is made up of calcium.
• Due to the versatility of calcium carbonate, it's used all around the world. Calcium carbonate was used even in the olden times when man had just learned how to build buildings out of cement.
• According to a famous study, the world's oldest building is made from limestone. Limestone is also a type of rock that is composed of calcium carbonate.
• Limestone is widely used for industrial purposes. Limestone is also a form of calcium carbonate.
• Calcium carbonate is one of the most used minerals in the industrial sector, so much so that we also make paint out of it.
• We have also found a way to not just make calcium carbonate coatings to enhance the longevity of buildings, but also make adhesives out of this mineral.
• Limestone, calcium sulfate, and calcium silicates are widely used to make cement.
• Calcium carbonate is also used to make plastic and paper.

Harmful Effects Of Calcium Carbonate

Not every white powder that you come across will be calcium carbonate, but in its more raw form, calcium carbonate is often just an odorless powder.

• There are three main properties of calcium carbonate. One of them is that this mineral can be found as a colorless, opaque crystal. One good example is the calcite crystals.
• The calcium carbonate is usually filled with various kinds of mineral acids. The color of calcium carbonate in powder form can go from white to tan.
• In its natural form, calcium carbonate can be found in sea shells and oyster shells.
• There are numerous kinds of lime-secreting algae in the oceans that come from irregularly bedded colonies of limestone.
• Calcium carbonate is a metal carbonate and, as all-metal carbonates when reacted with acid produce carbon dioxide, calcium carbonate also produces similar reactions.
• A study suggests that excess calcium carbonate in the body can cause an upset stomach and even vomiting.
• It is widely understood that calcium carbonate is a very crucial dietary supplement, aiding people who require more calcium intake. However, when taken in excess, it's harmful and can cause loss of appetite, metallic taste in the tongue, and dry mouth.

Availability Of Calcium Carbonate

In its most common form, calcium is found as calcium carbonate, which is also known as limestone in layman's tongue.

• Carbonate calcium is one of the most abundant elements that can be found in the earth's crust.
• dead marine life remains eventually turn into calcium carbonate.
• From chalk to calcite, calcium carbonate is widely used. One of the most commonly used forms of calcium carbonate is chalk and limestone.
• Calcite is second only to chalk in terms of its stability as a crystal structure.
• Since calcium carbonate is found in abundance, it is also used to purify iron ore from any waste impurities.
• We can make calcium carbonate by dissolving calcium oxide in water further from calcium hydroxide. Once calcium hydroxide is formed with the help of carbon dioxide, we can form calcium carbonate.
• Although all calcium supplements are useful for humankind, they are generally divided into two groups.
• The two groups of calcium supplements are known as organic calcium supplements, and another kind is known as inorganic calcium supplements.
• Organic calcium supplements are often negatively charged and can be found around us in forms such as gluconate, malate, or fumarate.
• Inorganic calcium supplements are a little more famous and widely used than organic calcium supplements.
• A famous inorganic calcium supplement is calcium carbonate. Machine-made animal bones are also a kind of inorganic calcium supplement.
• The usage of inorganic calcium supplements is limited to the diagnosis of animals that have a well-advanced digestive system. Thus, in this way, the inorganic calcium system cannot hamper the daily digestive system of the adult animal.

Other Uses Of Calcium Carbonate

It is well argued that today, of all the elements that we have, carbon is the most flexible and widely used. One of these is calcium carbonate. There are many forms of carbon, and all of them have their very own individual value. Calcium was discovered in the year 1808 by a scientist named Humphry Davy. During that time, the term calcium was derived from the Latin word 'calx' which meant 'lime'.

• Calcium carbonate comes to the great aid of farmers when it comes to battling acid rain. A study reveals that with the help of calcium carbonate, we can quickly calm the damage caused by acid rain.
• In many countries, when they get acid water deposits due to acid rain, they simply suspend the powdered calcium carbonate in it to aid the water.
• Acidic soils can also be treated with calcium carbonate. This mineral boosts your soil's health and helps the crop absorb nutrients such as nitrogen and potassium.
• It is widely understood that calcium carbonate has many medical properties. Although this element is prescribed for people who need calcium dietary supplements to boost their bone growth, the same element also comes in handy when it comes to getting rid of acid indigestion.
• Calcium carbonate is a very powerful antacid.
• Another name for calcium carbonate is limestone.
• There is a special kind of limestone which is called chalk chalk. This limestone is very soft compared to the usual limestone used in cement making.
• The usual chalk that we have, is not entirely pure, this chalk has impurities and the most common impurity is clay.
• Calcium is also known to be one of the most important elements in the human body. It's responsible for the growth and well-being of humans. Along with that, having good calcium content in the body means you will have a healthy nervous system and good heart health.