Calcium

Definition

Calcium is the chemical component with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft grey alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth most rich element by mass in the Earth's crust. Calcium is also the fifth most rich dissolved ion in seawater by both molarity and mass, after sodium, chloride, magnesium, and sulfate.

Application

Calcium can be used as

  1. as a reducing agent in the removal of other metals, such as uranium, zirconium, and thorium.
  2. as a deoxidizer, desulfurizer, or decarbonizer for a variety of ferrous and nonferrous alloys.
  3. as an alloying mediator used in the manufacture of aluminium, beryllium, copper, lead, and magnesium alloys.