Calcium carbonate

High school (ages 12+)
Science & Technology

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/calcium-carbonate

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the chemical formula?CaCO3
2. What is the primary mineral forms?Calcite and aragonite
3. What is calcium carbonate and where can we find it?Calcium carbonate is a mineral made of calcium, carbon, and oxygen. It can be found in chalk, eggshells, pearls, limestone, and the shells of many sea creatures.
4. Why do animals like shells and coral use calcium carbonate?It gives them strong shells and skeletons that protect them from predators and help them build reefs.

Biomineralization: The process by which living organisms produce minerals, often for structural or protective purposes.
Karst topography: Landscapes formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks like limestone, characterized by caves and sinkholes.
Hypercalcemia: An abnormally high level of calcium in the blood, which can have serious health consequences.
Ocean acidification: The ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans, caused by the uptake of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.