Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is a compound that stands out for its antacid effect during digestion. Often encountered in chewable food supplements, this substance is not only used in food but also in various industrial areas.
What is Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)?
Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the formula CaCO3, commonly known as limestone. It appears as odorless, white or colorless crystals in powder form and is insoluble in water. Found in rocks, and minerals like calcite and aragonite, it's also a major component in the shells of pearls, sea organisms, snails, and eggs.
Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in agricultural lime, formed when calcium ions in hard water react with carbonate ions to create lime. Medically, it is used as a calcium supplement or antacid.
Types of Calcium Carbonate
Although the chemical terms are the same, forms of calcium vary significantly in purity, whiteness, thickness, and homogeneity. Calcium carbonate is among the most useful and versatile materials known to man.
Many of us first encounter calcium carbonate during our school years using chalk;
Chalk is produced with calcium carbonate.
As limestone, calcium carbonate is a biogenic rock and denser than chalk.
As marble, calcium carbonate forms under high temperature and pressure conditions from the crystallization of chalk or limestone. Large marble deposits are found in North America and Europe.
Calcium carbonate added to food supplements.
Benefits of Calcium Carbonate
Calcium carbonate is one of the calcium supplements, another being calcium citrate. Both provide the body with calcium minerals.
Calcium carbonate can help with digestive discomfort after meals through its antacid effect. Calcium carbonate supplements, usually in absorbable or chewable form, facilitate digestion.
Benefits of Calcium
Many people use calcium supplements to strengthen their bones. While the effect of calcium on bones is evident, it also has other benefits. Calcium supplements can help prevent bone loss in women during the postmenopausal period. A deficiency in calcium can lead to health issues. For adults, having too little calcium in the body can increase the risk of osteoporosis or weak and porous bones that break easily. Importantly, the body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium. If vitamin D levels are low, one may not fully benefit from a calcium-rich diet.
Other major benefits of calcium include:
Contributing to normal energy-yielding metabolism.
Contributing to the normal function of digestive enzymes.
Playing a role in cell division and specialization.
Being essential for the maintenance of teeth as well as bones.
How to Use Calcium Carbonate?
Calcium carbonate is used as a food supplement. It serves as a base material for antacids, phosphate binders, or medicinal tablets. The reference daily intake amount of calcium mineral is 800 mg. If you're using calcium carbonate as a supplement, it should be consumed in the amounts recommended by your doctor or as instructed on the product.
Calcium carbonate is also found in baking powder, toothpaste, dessert mixes, dough, and wine. It's the active ingredient in agricultural lime and is used in animal feeds. Additionally, it is employed in environmental cleanup through water and waste treatment.
For industrial purposes, calcium carbonate is used in mining or quarrying. Calcium carbonate manufacturers can produce it from pure calcium carbonate or marble, or by passing carbon dioxide through a calcium hydroxide solution.
Calcium carbonate can offer significant insights into Earth's history. Known for its presence in shallow waters, studying calcium levels can provide information about the geographical past of the planet.
Note: If you have any health issues or are taking medication regularly, it is advised to consult your doctor or a specialist before consuming!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is Calcium Carbonate Soluble in Water?
Calcium carbonate has very low solubility in pure water (15mg/L at 25°C). It exhibits the unusual property of increased solubility as the temperature of the water decreases.
2. Is Calcium Carbonate an Acid or Gas?
Calcium carbonate is a type of chemical molecule found in stones, pearls, some seashell organisms, and eggshells. It is not gaseous. Like all metal carbonates, calcium carbonate reacts with acidic solutions to produce carbon dioxide gas. Its antacid effect helps neutralize stomach acid.
3. What Foods Contain Calcium Carbonate?
Calcium carbonate is not found in fruits, vegetables, and meat products but can be added to some foods. Foods that contain calcium, a component of the calcium carbonate molecule, include:
Chia Seeds
Soy Milk
Almonds
Dried Figs
Tofu
Sunflower Seeds
Broccoli
Edamame
Sesame
Sweet Potatoes
Oranges and orange juice
4. How is Calcium Carbonate Obtained?
The most common forms of calcium carbonate are chalk, limestone, and marble, obtained from fossilized snail shells, shellfish, and corals. These forms differ in purity, whiteness, density, and homogeneity. Calcium carbonate is obtained from these natural forms.