Category: Inorganic chemistry

The chemical symbol for sodium is 'Na', a fact dating back to the Latin name 'natrium'. Understanding the difference between Na and sodium is key in chemistry, as it distinguishes the elemental metal from its name and its charged ionic state, which have vastly different properties.

As an alkaline earth metal, calcium is a highly reactive element that readily forms compounds with other substances. Due to its chemical properties, what does calcium react well with and what are the resulting products?

According to the chemical reactivity series, potassium is significantly more reactive than magnesium. While pure elemental potassium and magnesium do not react with each other directly under normal conditions, their interaction is governed by their differing chemical reactivities, particularly in displacement reactions involving their compounds.

According to the activity series of metals, zinc is more reactive than mercury, allowing it to displace mercury from its compounds under the right conditions. This chemical phenomenon, known as a single-displacement reaction, is a key principle in inorganic chemistry that explains why zinc metal can be used to isolate mercury from a solution of one of its salts.

Calcium is the fifth most abundant element in the Earth's crust and a highly reactive alkaline earth metal. So, what happens when calcium is treated with other substances? The outcome is a series of fascinating chemical reactions that are fundamental to understanding inorganic chemistry and its many applications.

While elemental calcium is the lightest of the alkaline earth metals, it is also highly reactive with moisture. This fundamental property is the primary reason why you cannot and should not touch pure calcium metal, as doing so can lead to severe chemical burns.