Although I read somewhere that when its exposed to oxygen it oxides, I'm not sure how to answer this question, but I have it for a chemistry lab. "Although calcium is a metal according to its position on the Periodic Table it seemingly lacks luster. How can this be explained?"
Any ideas?
2007-12-15 13:39:30 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
all metals have luster however, if you want to observe an element classified as matter in its PURE FORM, then you have to create appropriate conditions. For calcium, you need to put it in a vacuum to see that its lustrous. But in air it forms a thin coating on the surface, that coating is calcium (II) nitride
formula for the coating is Ca3N2
2007-12-15 14:23:06 · answer #1 · answered by sourmanofcoal 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's possible that people look at calcium outside of any protective jar of mineral oil and say that it's gray. Calcium is less reactive than sodium or potassium, so suppliers ship it exposed to the air. I hadsome when I was a child, and it looked like gray curlicues. By contrast, when I cut sodium or potassium with a knife, the fresh-cut surfaces were silvery. I suspect that calcium is a silvery metal also, but it's always covered with an oxide.
2007-12-15 13:51:43 · answer #2 · answered by steve_geo1 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
You already had the answer. The surface oxidation dulled calcium's metallic luster.
2007-12-15 13:45:42 · answer #3 · answered by naz 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Does Calcium Have Luster
2017-02-24 05:23:53 · answer #4 · answered by brisbin 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oxidation on the surface, just like all metals causes it to lose its shine.
2016-04-09 05:52:11 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You actually answered your own question. The reason calcium is lackluster is because it is oxidized. In its pure form, which you would have to see in a non-oxygen environment, calcium is shiny and pretty.
2007-12-15 13:47:38 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋