Calcium Carbonate

About Calcium Carbonate

• Chemical propertiesCalcium carbonate is a basic compound thats odorless, insoluble in water, and has a blocky particle shape. Its relatively soft, with a rating of 3 on the Mohs scale.
• UsesCalcium carbonate has many uses, including:
  • Dietary supplement: Used to treat low calcium conditions, such as hypocalcemia
  • Antacid: Used to relieve heartburn, acid indigestion, and upset stomach
  • Building material: Used in construction as marble or as an ingredient in cement
  • Food additive: Used as a food coloring and firming agent
  • Filler: Used in plastics to improve stiffness and impact strength
  • Other: Used in the manufacturing of paints, paper, and antacids
• Natural occurrenceCalcium carbonate is a common substance found in rocks, such as limestone, and is the main component of shells, pearls, eggshells, and coal balls.
• PolymorphsCalcium carbonate exists in different polymorphs, including calcite, aragonite, and vaterite. The thermodynamically stable form under normal conditions is calcite.