Interesting Facts and Statistics

Check out the biggest list of the most amazing interesting facts about calcium.

What Is Calcium?

These interesting facts will explain why this element is so important. By the way, did you know that Calcium is actually not white?

1. It’s is a metal, shiny and silvery like other metals. It is not white powder as most people think. It is a silvery white, soft alkaline earth metal.
2. Then why tablets are white? The white coating on calcium metal is an element that has reacted with the oxygen in the air and formed calcium oxide
3. It is obtained from chalk, limestone, and marble
4. There are 179 different known uses for Ca in the human body.
5. More than 99% of total body calcium is stored in the bones and teeth
6. Bones are actually a composition of protein strengthened by deposits of Ca.
7. This important elements is essential for strong bones
8. When the body is injured, it starts the healing process by stopping a blood with a blood clot.
4. It is one of the more difficult elements for the body to digest.
5. Vitamin D is needed to absorb it.
6. It can be obtained from a variety of foods. Milk and dairy products are the biggest sources.
7. It is basic component of most plants and animals as well.
8. It is very important and sometimes even essential for people with osteoporosis, colon cancer and high blood pressure.
9. Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the earth’s crust and makes up more than 3% of the crust.
10. Human breast milk provides all the calcium a child needs.
11. People need extremely regulated calcium level because our brains rely on it. If the level is too high or too low, our nervous system gets “nervous”
12. Dark green leafy vegetables are a much better source of calcium than milk. They have almost no fat calories
13. Caffeine is “washing away” calcium. So don’t forget to add milk or cream to your morning coffee!
14. In nature, Ca carbonate is often found in nature in caves in stalagmites
15. The element name “calcium” comes from the Latin word “calcis” meaning “lime”
16. Interesting chemistry facts about an element

Atomic Number: 20
Symbol: Ca
Atomic Weight: 40.078
Discovery: Sir Humphrey Davy Davy 1808 (England)
Electron Configuration: [Ar] 4s2
Word Origin: Latin calx, calcis: lime
Color: silvery

17. How much calcium human body needs?
Birth – 6 months: 210 mg
6 to 12 months: 270
1 to 3 years: 500
4 to 8 years: 800
9 to 18 years: 1300
19 to 50 years: 1000
50+ years: 1200 mg