How is calcium produced industrially?

Calcium carbonate is obtained by mining or quarrying. Therefore, only some areas and countries have geological properties that have produced it. It is a source material of great value. It is the base of the following: calcium. carbonate, calcium sulphate and barium chloride. The raw materials required to produce calcium chloride are lime and hydrochloric acid.

Calcium is an enrichment for chewing gum. It is commonly used as a calcium supplement to improve formation or strength of teeth and bones. It is also useful as an antacid. Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in agricultural lime. Water can be added to lime to form calcium hydroxide. The process is known as 'slaking'. Solid calcium hydroxide is known as slaked lime.

In the past, calcium was produced by electrolysis of anhydrous calcium chloride. Now calcium is industrially made by heating limestone, coral, chalk or sea shells (which are forms of calcium carbonate), the heat displaces calcium atoms in hot, low pressure containers with a melting point of about 2572oC.

The heat drives off carbon dioxide. This makes the reaction reversible; as calcium oxide can react with carbon dioxide to form calcium carbonate.

The metal reacts slowly with oxygen, water vapour and nitrogen in the air to form a white crystalline coating of calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide.