PRESENTATION NO: 1 GEOHYDROLOGY PRESENTED BY: ROLL NO:

Calcium occurs in water naturally. Seawater contains approximately 400 ppm calcium. One of the main reasons for the abundance of calcium in water is its natural occurrence in the earth's crust. Calcium is also a constituent of coral. Rivers generally contain 1-2 ppm calcium, but in lime areas rivers may contains calcium concentrations as high as 100 ppm.

seaweed luctuca 800-6500 ppm (moist mass), oysters approximately 1500 ppm (dry mass). In a watery solution calcium is mainly present as Ca2+ (aq), but it may also occur as CaOH+ (aq) or Ca(OH)2 (aq), or as CaSO4 in seawater. Calcium is an important determinant of water hardness, and it also functions as a pH stabilizer, because of its buffering qualities. Calcium also gives water a better taste.

Contrary to magnesium placed directly above calcium in the periodic chart, elementary calcium reacts with water at room temperature, according to the following reaction mechanism: Ca (s) + 2H2O (g) -> Ca(OH)2 (aq) + H2 (g)

H2O + CO2 -> H2CO3 and CaCO3 + H2CO3 -> Ca(HCO3)2 And the total reaction mechanism:

CaCO3 (s) + CO2 (g) + 2H2O (l) -> Ca2+ (aq) + 2 HCO3- (aq)
The product is calcium hydrogen carbonate.

Elementary calcium reacts with water. Calcium compounds are more or less water soluble. Calcium carbonate has a solubility of 14 mg/L, which is multiplied by a factor five in presence of carbon dioxide. Calcium phosphate solubility is 20 mg/L, and that of calcium fluoride is 16 mg/L. Calcium chromate solubility is 170 g/L, and at 0oC calcium hypo chlorate solubility is 218 g/L. Solubility of other calcium compounds lies between the levels of these examples, calcium arsenate 140 mg/L, calcium hydroxide 1.3 g/L and calcium sulphate 2.7-8.8 g/L.

Calcium is naturally present in water. It may dissolve from rocks such as limestone, marble, calcite, dolomite, gypsum, fluorite and apatite. Calcium is a determinant of water hardness, because it can be found in water as Ca2+ ions.

Calcium is a dietary requirement for all organisms apart from some insects and bacteria. Calcium carbonate is a building stone of skeletons of most marine organisms, and eye lenses. Calcium phosphate is required for bone structure and teeth structure of terrestrial organisms. Plants mainly contain calcium oxalate. Calcium storage in plants is about 1% of dry mass.

Calcium is largely responsible for water hardness, and may negatively influence toxicity of other compounds. Elements such as copper, lead and zinc are much more toxic in soft water. In limed soils calcium may immobilize iron. This may cause iron shortages, even when plenty of iron is present in the soil. There are six stable calcium isotopes. Today, we know of eight instable calcium isotopes. 45Ca is highly radioactive and toxic.

Hard water may assist in strengthening bones and teeth because of its high calcium concentration. It may also decrease the risk of heart conditions. Drinking water hardness must be above 8.4 o dH. Calcium carbonate has a positive effect on lead water pipes, because it forms a protective lead(II)carbonate coating. This prevents lead from dissolving in drinking water, and thereby prevents it from entering the human body.

When one takes up large amounts of calcium this may negatively influence human health. The lethal dose of oral uptake is about 5-50 mg/ kg body weight. Metallic calcium corrodes the skin when it comes in contact with skin, eyes and mucous membranes.

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