Why is calcium the most important element in body?« Back to Questions List

Calcium is the essential element required to maintain health of both teeth and bones in human body. This element is the most abundant metallic element present in the human body. Deficiency of calcium affects the growth and strength of teeth and bones in both humans and animals. Animals cannot walk, stand, sit or do anything in the absence of a healthy skeletal structure. This makes the calcium the most important element for humans and animals. 

Ninety-nine percent of the calcium in our body is located in bones and teeth. But the remaining one percent too is crucial for normal functioning of human body.  Apart from the above, calcium also plays other important roles. It regulates the passage of electricity through nervous system, supports clotting of blood and aids contraction of muscles in the body. It also has an important role in contractions in the heart.   

Our body loses calcium every day through skin, nail, hair, sweat, urine and feces. However, body is not capable of producing own calcium. Hence, it should be supplemented through food. If body does not obtain sufficient calcium through food, the required calcium is taken from bones. If this happens on regular basis, bones become weak and break easily. A grown up body needs 1000-1200 mg on daily basis. Dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese are good sources of calcium. If the body does not obtain sufficient calcium from food, calcium supplements may have to be used. Taking more than required calcium does not provide any advantage to body.  

Calcium has been in use for thousands of years. First successful isolation of the element was carried out by Sir Humphry Davy in 1808. He was a Cornish chemist. Calcium is a soft silver coloured metal. It is not normally found in standalone form in nature. Mostly, it is found in combined forms with other elements. Limestone, chalk and marble account for major share of calcium. Minerals gypsum and fluorite also contain calcium. 

The element has wide use. Calcium compounds are widely used in the manufacture of cement, glass, lime, bricks  and paint. It helps in the manufacturing of other metals too as it functions as a reduction agent. A reducing agent is also known as a reductant or reducer. It is an element or compound that loses (or "donates") an electron to another chemical species during chemical reaction. Since the reducing agent donates and losses electrons, it is said to have been oxidized. For any chemical reaction to take place that involves a reducing agent or electronic donor, there must be an electron recipient too. The element that receives the electron is called oxidizing agent. Calcium is an important reducing agent.  

The atomic number of calcium is 20 and is represented by Ca in periodic table. It is an alkaline earth metal.  

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