See Also: calcium-45(medicine)
calcium-47(medicine)
calcium(dictionary)
calcium(dictionary)
Calcium(health)
Calcium(medicine)
calcium(encyclopedia)
ionised calcium(medicine)
calcium oxalate(medicine)
calcium pantothenate(medicine)

calcium (iou)



calcium noun. E19.
[from Latin calc-, CALX + -IUM.]
A greyish-white chemical element, atomic no. 20, which is one of the alkaline earth metals and occurs abundantly in nature, esp. as its carbonate (limestone etc.). (Symbol Ca.)
Comb.: calcium antagonist Medicine any substance that reduces the influx of calcium into the cells of cardiac and smooth muscle, weakening contractions and tending to lower blood pressure; calcium carbonate a white insoluble solid, CaCO3, occurring naturally as chalk, limestone, marble, and calcite, and forming mollusc shells and stony corals; calcium hydroxide a soluble white crystalline solid, Ca(OH)2, commonly produced in the form of slaked lime; calcium oxide a white caustic alkaline solid, CaO, commonly produced in the form of quicklime.