The element Calcium was discovered by Sir Humphrey Davy in London, England in 1808. Calcium has the symbol of Ca with an atomic number of 20. According to Jefferson Lab "Metallic calcium was first isolated by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808 through the electrolysis of a mixture of lime (CaO) and mercuric oxide (HgO)" Calcium is the fifth most abundant element (after oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and iron) in the earth's crust. This means that it makes up 3.63% of the crust by weight.
Calcium's physical properties are characteristics that can be examined without changing the composition of matter. In calcium's pure form, it is a silvery-grey metal. This might let you think that the metal itself is found as a free element in nature, but this is not true. Calcium is found in rather various minerals such as limestone, fluorite, and gypsum. The calcium metal is fairly hard. It is harder than sodium, but softer than aluminum.…show more content… Some of the chemical properties of calcium are that; Calcium ignites when heated in air or oxygen (flammability), Calcium reacts immediately and rapidly with water, but then the reaction gradually slows down due to the formation of a film of Calcium hydroxide (reactivity). Calcium is known to be highly reactive with acids. Calcium (pronounced CAL-see-um) acquires its name from the Latin word 'calcis' which means lime. The Calcium metal has a few uses, but not as much as the Calcium that is found in sources of our dairy products. The Calcium metal is known to be used as a 'getter'. A getter is a substance that abolishes unwanted chemicals from certain system. Calcium is used as a getter in the manufacture of evacuated glass bulbs. Calcium is joined to the bulb while it is being made. After that, it incorporates with gases that are left in the glass in the final stages of