Calcium
Forms Handled
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Calcium lumps (50x160mm)
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Calcium turnings (5mm thick x 16mm W x 100mm L)
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Calcium granules (0-2mm or 2-7mm)
Calcium Facts
Calcium is a silvery-white, relatively soft metal that is obtained by heating calcium oxide (CaO) with aluminium metal in a vacuum. Although calcium metal is attacked by oxygen and water, the bulk metal is protected by an oxide-nitride film and can be worked as a metal.
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Many minerals contain calcium. Calcium minerals are very common and can be mined anywhere. It is chiefly obtained from limestone, dolomite and gypsum. Common calcium-bearing minerals include anhydrite (calcium sulfate), gypsum (hydrated calcium sulfate), and aragonite or calcite (calcium carbonate).
Atomic no.
Relative Atomic Mass
Melting Point
Boiling Point
Density
Electrical Resistivity
Young's Modulus
Heat Capacity
Abundance
Thermal Conductivity
20
40.078
842 °C
1484 °C
1550 kg/m3
34 nΩ⋅m
20 GPa
25.9 J/K⋅mol
41500 ppm
200 W/m⋅K
In broad terms Calcium production may be divided into two types – Electrolytic and Aluminothermic.
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The latter contains higher levels of Aluminium and is more conducive to uses where Aluminium is not a deleterious element. Customers include the lead industry where Ca is used for deoxidising lead for stop/start motor batteries, and the Magnesium industry where it is used in master alloys.
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China possesses electrolytic production dating from the 1960s Sino-Soviet Pact. Some of these plants have been the last to be privatised as Calcium is often used in the nuclear arena and production has remained under government control. Calcium is classed as hazardous for transport and goods. Attention should be paid to packing and handling.
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A typical grade of good quality electrolytic calcium metal would be – Ca 99% min, Al – 0.08%, Cu – 0.01% max, Mg – 0.08% max, Fe – 0.01% max, Mn – 0.015% max, N – 0.05% max, Sr – 0.2% max.
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Calcium was first isolated in its metallic form by Sir Humphrey Davy in 1808 through the electrolysis of a mixture of calcium oxide and mercury oxide.