I just learned that calcium is a metal?

Question

I always pictured calcium as a white powder or rock type stuff. What are it's characteristics when it is in pure form?

gp3rts, hehe, it's a metal on the periodic table, but I thought it should be a mineral too.

Answer 1

Pure calcium is a soft metal that melts at about 800 Celsius. It's very reactive and even reacts with water. So most of the calcium we see around us is in the form of a compound. Lime, calcium oxide is a white powder. Bones and teeth are mostly calcium phosphate. As you say, most calcium compounds are white powders. But pure calcium is shiny and grey, like most other metals.

Answer 2

Kiko,

Calcium is indeed a metal. Thus, its being on the left side of the periodic table. Calcium is a +1 charged ion and in its pure state, is is a soft shiny metal.

Answer 3

Just to clear up a misunderstanding by one of the responders, calcium has a valence of +2, not +1. This is still a very reactive state, although not as reactive as typical +1 metals such as lithium, sodium or potassium.

Answer 4

1. Calcium is a metal as has been adequately described by other answerers;
2. A mineral is a natuarally occurring inorganic compound with a specific chemical property (i.e., a combination of elements -- not just one element); for example, a mineral containing calcium would be calcite, which is CaCO3.

Answer 5

Calcium oxidizes so easily that you never see Un-oxidized calcium. You would have to separate it with electrical methods (I think) and then hold it under kerosene to keep it from oxidizing. At least, that is what they do with sodium, which is silvery when it is freshly cut. It must be similar to sodium; I'd guess that calcium must be fairly soft and might be light enough to float. Try searching on the physical characteristics of calcium on line.

Answer 6

Calcium is a soft, silvery metal. You never see it in pure form because it is very reactive and will quicky oxidize in air to form Calcium Oxide (lime) which is a white powder.

Answer 7

Calcium in it's purest form is an extreamily soft metal that can be cut with a knife or pair of scizzors. and yes it is classified correctly on the periodic table.

Answer 8

Relearn, it is not a metal.
edit. OK I was wrong. It's late at night here.

I remember from chemistry. The teacher put a piece of calcium in water to show how reactive it is. The piece of calcium started to burn.

Answer 9

metal?? that doesn't sound right - mineral makes more sense...