Coral calcium

Calcium Calcium is an essential element for humans, especially in maintaining healthy bones and teeth. Calcium is found widely in nature, mainly combined with carbon and oxygen in calcium carbonate. This compound is the main ingredient in rocks such as limestone, chalk, and marble. Coral reefs build up from calcium carbonate exoskeletons that are created by marine animals called corals. Calcium carbonate is used in antacid tablets and as an abrasive in toothpaste. An abrasive is a hard material used to polish, smooth, or grind a softer material. Emery boards and sandpaper are examples of abrasive materials. 

Reef aquariums An aqueous solution of calcium hydroxide is used in reef aquariums to provide calcium for animals such as snails and corals. Calcium hydroxide reacts with the carbon dioxide in the water to produce calcium and bicarbonate ions. Reef animals use the calcium to grow shells and strong skeletal systems. 

Aragonite. Calcium carbonate is a common deposit in shallow tropical waters as a constituent of muds, or in the upper part of coral reefs where it precipitates from carbon dioxide-rich waters supersaturated with carbonate from intense biological photosynthesis and solar heating. Deposits of ooHtic aragonite, CaCO, extending over 250,000 km in water less than 5 m deep ate mined for industrial purposes in the Bahamas for export to the United States (19). 

The oceans contain vast quantities of ionic calcium,, to the extent of 400 mg/L of seawater (3). Calcium is present ia living organisms as a constituent of bones, teeth, shell, and coral. It is essential to plant as well as animal life. 

A major biological sink for CO9 that is often overlooked is the calcium carbonate shells of corals, molluscs, and Crustacea. These invertebrate animals deposit CaCOa in the form of protective exoskeletons. In some invertebrates, such as the sderaetinians (hard corals) of tropical seas, photosynthetic dinoflagellates (kingdom Protoctista) known as zooxanthellae live within the ani-... 

Limestone. This is a sedimentary rock that is formed by the accumulation of organic marine life remains (shells or coral). Its main component is calcium carbonate. Cement rock. This is a sedimentary rock that has a similar composition as the industrially produced cement. 

The composition of the particles is related to that of the source rocks. Quartz sand [composed of silica (silicon dioxide)], which makes up the most common variety of silica sand, is derived from quartz rocks. Pure quartz is usually almost free of impurities and therefore almost colorless (white). The coloration of some silica sand is due to chemical impurities within the structure of the quartz. The common buff, brown, or gray, for example, is caused by small amounts of metallic oxides iron oxide makes the sand buff or brown, whereas manganese dioxide makes it gray. Other minerals that often also occur as sand are calcite, feldspar and obsidian Calcite (composed of calcium carbonate), is generally derived from weathered limestone or broken shells or coral feldspar is an igneous rock of complex composition, and obsidian is a natural glass derived from the lava erupting from volcanoes see Chapter 2. 

Much building material has been derived from two monomineral sedimentary rocks gypsum (composed of hydrated calcium sulfate) and limestone, which consists of calcite (composed mostly of calcium carbonate). Freshwater and seawater contain dissolved calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate. Most limestone and gypsum are formed when, as a consequence of the evaporation of water, calcium sulfate and calcium carbonate precipitate out of the water solutions as either gypsum or limestone. Limestone is also formed as a result of the activity of living organisms. Many sea- and freshwater animals, such as snails, clams, and corals, as well as some water plants, draw... 

Shell, coral, pearl (exoskeletons Limestone and/or Calcium carbonate... 

Bone, shell, and coral are not, however, the only biominerals created by living organisms. The kidney and liver of animals, for example, often synthesize biominerals in the form of pathological stones (known as calculi) of varied composition (mostly of calcium oxalate, calcium phosphate, or... 

The basic constituent of seashells is calcium carbonate, an insoluble compound formed from calcium ions secreted from the cells of the shellfish and carbonate ions present in seawater. But calcium carbonate is a white solid. The colors of seashells often arise from impurities and metabolic waste products captured in the solid shell as it is formed. Coloration is dictated by both diet and water habitat. For example, some cowries that live and feed on soft corals take on the hue of the coral species. Yellow and red colors often arise from carotenoid pigments such as //-carotene. Light refraction often generates the iridescent mother-of-pearl hues. 

Vinegar is recommended for cleaning a variety of appliances and other items that may be stained by hard water deposits. Automatic coffee makers, steam irons, dishwashers, teapots, faucet heads, and shower heads — over time, all accumulate calcium deposits from hard water. Groundwater, that is, water that travels through soil and rocks, accumulates dissolved calcium ions as a consequence of the natural weathering of minerals that contain calcium such as limestone and calcite, shells, and coral. At the same time, carbon dioxide in the air dissolves in water to form carbonate ions that combine with calcium ions to form a white solid, calcium... 

In addition to climate change, the increased atmospheric concentration of C02 is likely to have wide-spread ecological effects in various environments, since C02 is a physiologically active gas, in plants as well as animals. The acidic nature of C02 will also lead to changes in the chemistry of the ocean s surface, which is in equilibrium with the atmosphere. Once the shift in the oceanic chemical balance becomes significant, it will affect ecosystems. It has been shown, for example, that doubling C02 concentration in the atmosphere will reduce the rate of calcium carbonate deposition in coral reefs by 30-40% (Langdon et al., 2000). 

Langdon, C., Takahashi, T., Sweeney, C., Chipman, D., Goddard, J., Marubini, F., Aceves, H., Barnett, H., and Atkinson, M.J., Effect of calcium carbonate saturation state on the calcification rate of an experimental coral reef, Global Biogeochem. Cy., 14, 639-654,2000. 

Some of the important compounds containing the group IA and IIA metals are the carbonates, nitrates, sulfates, and phosphates. We have already mentioned the mineral trona as the source of sodium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is found in many forms that include chalk, calcite, aragonite, and marble, as well as in egg shells, coral, and seashells. In addition to its use as a building material, calcium phosphate is converted into fertilizers in enormous quantities (see Chapter 14). 

Platform carbonates Massive concretions of calcium carbonate in neritic sediments deposited by corals, corraUne algae and other organisms that deposit calcareous hard parts. 

Eggshells are mostly calcium carbonate. Seashells, pearls, limestone, and chalk are also made of calcium carbonate. So are some of the most beautiful and complex places on earth—coral reefs. 

Animals called corals build coral reefs. Corals take calcium and carbonate ions in seawater and make calcium carbonate skeletons.The ocean is naturally basic, with a pH a little above eight. When the pH is lowered, even if it s still somewhat basic, there aren t as many carbonate ions floating around and it s harder for corals to make their skeletons. When there aren t enough raw materials, the corals can t work efficiently. 

In addition to limestone, calcium is also found in other rocks, coral, shells, eggshells, bones, teeth, and stalactites and stalagmites. 

Carbon is, without a doubt, one of the most important elements on Earth. It is the major element found in over one million organic compounds and is the minor component in minerals such as carbonates of magnesium and calcium (e.g., limestone, marble, and dolomite), coral, and shells of oysters and clams. 

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