Why not Ca++

[DKKA]

Randy,
We have Calcium Chloride, Calcium Hydroxide, various forms of Chelated Calcium, etc. Why not just a solution or powder of Ionic Calcium without the baggage that comes with other calcium additions?

(forgive me if this is a silly question. I'm just curious)

Thanks,
Dan

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Dan:

All chemicals in a solid or liquid form must be charged balanced overall. So you cannot make a bag of just Ca++. If you somehow did, it would fly apart with tremendous energy because of the electrostatic repulsion between all of those positive charges packed together.

The closest that you can come to using pure calcium is calcium metal (Ca). It is a silvery white metal that can ignite in the air, if the pieces are small enough, and burn with a reddish flame. Big chunks turn grey as they reat with air.

When you add it to water, it will immediately react and release hydrogen gas, forming calcium hydroxide.

Overall, I wouldn't recommend using it:D