Definition of calcium carbonate
: a compound CaCO3 found in nature as calcite and aragonite and in plant ashes, bones, and shells and used especially in making lime and portland cement and as a gastric antacid
Examples of calcium carbonate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web The microcrystals are remarkably similar to the calcium carbonate produced by modern-day bacteria, and so most of the micrite is likely biological in origin, Bralower and his colleagues report in Earth and Planetary Science Letters.
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Katherine Kornei, Science | AAAS, "After an asteroid wiped out the dinosaurs, ocean microbes helped life rebound," 15 Sep. 2020 The tiny sea creatures’ shells are made of calcium carbonate, a dusty white mineral also used as chalk.
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Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, "Museum’s 150-Year-Old Plankton Have Thicker Shells Than Their Modern Counterparts," 10 Feb. 2020 This could include basic elements like phosphorus and nitrogen, or more complex organic molecules like calcium carbonate.
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Daniel Oberhaus, Wired, "Will We Recognize Life on Mars When We See It?," 9 July 2020 Those with low levels of stomach acid (more common in people older than 50) absorb calcium citrate more easily than calcium carbonate.
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Lisa Drayer, CNN, "Should you take a dietary supplement to prevent disease?," 24 June 2020 This acidity affects marine species -- including plankton, shellfish and corals -- that build their shells and skeletons from calcium carbonate.
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Cnn Staff, CNN, "Our oceans are amazing, but they need our help," 7 June 2020 Coral reefs must have to accumulate calcium carbonate for survival and so the sea cucumbers play a vital role in preserving the coral reefs.
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K A Shaji, Quartz India, "India readies the world’s first safe zone for sea cucumbers," 5 May 2020 Nutritionists advise that when choosing a joint supplement for your dog, look for several key ingredients proven to help joint health, including glucosamine, chondroitin, MSM, turmeric, and calcium carbonate.
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The Editors, Field & Stream, "Supplements to Keep Your Dog Healthy," 24 Apr. 2020 Travertine terraces are hot springs that rise up through limestone, dissolve calcium carbonate, and deposit calcite, forming funky-looking landscapes.
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Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, "These Yellowstone National Park Webcams Will Cure Your Cabin Fever," 8 Apr. 2020
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'calcium carbonate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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Time Traveler for calcium carbonate
The first known use of calcium carbonate was in 1868
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