Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #36 Pure Calcium

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Reef Chemistry Question of the Day #36

Hard question today.

If you had a teaspoon of pure calcium, with no other elements in it, what would it most likely look like?

A. A white granular substance, like salt
B. A brown granular substance, like GFO
C. A shiny glob, like steel
D. A clear glob, like quartz
E. A shiny liquid, like mercury
F. A clear liquid, like water

Good luck!


















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[tyler1503]

I say D a clear glob, like quartz

 

[Alabamareef]

I'll go with C, since Calciium is an Earth Metal.

 

[juggalogentry]

ill be the odd one out by saying A

 

[DFW]

b, because it would likely be exposed to air when you see it, and therefore oxidized?

 

[birdsnest]

C, but as it is exposed to air it will oxidize and produce lime giving it a chalky appearance

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Any other takers?

 

[ksanfranfan]

C. A shiny glob, like steel

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Well, you guys are good!

The answer is....C. A shiny glob, like steel

pure calcium is a metal, and looks like this picture

I put this question in because I wanted to make sure people recognized that calcium is really a metal.

It is true that in the air it will very rapidly start to oxidize (and even react with N2 to form a surface nitride) and take on a grey/white look, but since I said no other elements (like oxygen) in the premise of the question, we were looking at it before it oxidized. If you light it, it will actually burn in air, but it won't self ignite.