Question

Explain why Calcium does not occur free in nature.

Answer 1

• Calcium is one of the most reactive metals. It is the third most reactive metal after Potassium and Barium. So, Calcium readily reacts with Oxygen, water, Carbon dioxide, etc. to form compounds.

For example,

$$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{Ca}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to 2\mathrm{CaO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right) \\ \mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{Oxygen}\mathrm{Calcium} \\ \mathrm{oxide} \end{gathered}$$

• Therefore, Calcium does not occur free in nature.