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Britannica Sources used in this answer

How does calcium react with cold water compared with warm water?

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A labeled diagram of the periodic table entry for calcium, showing its atomic number 20, symbol Ca, atomic weight 40.078, electron configuration, and classification as an alkaline-earth metal. Icons indicate calcium is a solid with a face-centered cubic crystal structure and strongly basic oxides at room temperature.
calcium The chemical element calcium is the most abundant metallic element in the human body.

Calcium is a reactive alkaline-earth metal that interacts with water to produce hydrogen gas and calcium hydroxide.1

The rate of this reaction depends on the temperature of the water:

  • Warm water: Calcium reacts rapidly with warm water.1
  • Cold water: Calcium reacts with cold water, but the process occurs more slowly.1

In both cases, the chemical reaction results in the formation of calcium hydroxide and the release of hydrogen gas.1