Calcium carbonate is a versatile polymorphic material found in diverse places, from seashells to power stations. It occurs naturally in several different types of rocks and minerals and is processed for a variety of applications. There are numerous connections between a number of equilibrium reactions involving calcium compounds. The solubility of calcium carbonate changes according to the conditions, and Le Chatelier’s principle can help us understand why seashells dissolve when they fall to the depths of the ocean.
Throughout history, humans have been able to utilise the unique properties of calcium carbonate in everything from prehistoric cave paintings to modern applications in paper, plastics and construction. Calcium carbonate, CaCO3, is one of nature’s most abundant raw materials. It is found as the main constituent of mountain ranges, in molten form as ‘cold’ carbonatite lava, or as a solid in the form of stalactites, stalagmites and tufa, as well as in many other geological environments . It is a component of seashells, eggshells, corals and pearls.
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