What is calcium phosphate made from?

Are you tired of not knowing what the heck calcium phosphate is made from? Do your friends mock you for your lack of knowledge on this basic scientific fact? Well, worry no more my dear friend because today we are diving deep into the world of calcium phosphate!

Let’s start with the basics

First things first, where does calcium phosphate come from? Calcium (Ca) and phosphate (PO4) ions combine together to form crystals which then create various forms of calcium phosphates.

So basically, it’s like when two people fall in love and create a beautiful union but instead it’s two ions creating a crystal. How romantic.

The different types of Calcium Phosphate

Now that we know how this dynamic duo creates calcuim phosphates let’s take a closer look at some different types:

Hydroxyapatite

This one is just as fun to say as it sounds! This type has extra OH groups attached to the crystal making it hydroxylated. It makes up about 70% of our bones’ mineral content (wowza!) and helps give bones their hardness.

Table: A breakdown of Hydroxyapatite

Element	Amount
Calcium	39%
Phosphorus	18%
Oxygen	43%

Brushite

Also known by its catchier name Monocalcium phosphate monohydrate, Brushite can be found in kidney stones! I bet you didn’t expect that fun-fact did you?!

Bullet list: Features of Brushite

• White powder
• Can cause kidney stone formation
• Used in dentistry

Octacalcium Phosphate (OCP)

Don’t let its eight-calcium sounding name fool ya – this type of calcium phosphate is not very stable! You’ll find it in the initial stages of bone formation.

The importance of calcium phosphate to our bodies

So why should you care about this? Well, other than being a conversation starter at parties, calcium phosphates are essential to maintaining healthy bones and teeth!

Calcium and phosphorus work together with Vitamin D to build strong bones which can decrease the likelihood of fractures down the road.

FUN FACT ALERT!: Calcium also plays a role in blood clotting while phosphate helps regulate cell metabolism (so important!!)

Bullet list: Benefits of Calcium Phosphate

• Builds strong bones
• Helps prevent fractures
• Important for cell regulation

But wait there’s more…

Other benefits include combating tooth decay by neutralizing acids from food that would normally harm your enamel. Also, for those runners out there – intake of calcium will help increase nerve transmission which results in better muscle contractions (hello PR!).

Applications outside our Bodies

Calcium phosphate doesn’t just benefit us humans. In fact, it has numerous applications outside our bodies such as:

Food Additive

If you’re like me and wonder why half the foods we eat have random ingredients on their labels then this might interest ya! Many different types of calcium phosphates are used as leavening agents, stabilizers, pH control agents etc… basically they make sure your food looks pretty & stays fresh longer.

Table: Examples Of Foods That Contain Calcium Phosphate

Type	Example
Leavening	Gravies and sauces
Stabilizer	Dairy products
pH Control	Canned Vegetables

Fertilizer

Yup! I bet you didn’t think we’d be going here but voila dicalcium and monocalcium phosphates are commonly used as fertilizers to help plant growth. These calcium derivatives basically provide a source of food for your plants!

Bullet list: Other practical uses of Calcium Phosphate

• Manufacturing materials such as lubricants and plastics industry
• Creating new synthetic bone material
• Water treatment plants

Conclusion

As we’ve seen, there’s more to this unassuming compound than meets the eye! From being an essential component in our bodies & combating tooth decay to stabilizing our beloved foods and even helping our planet by acting as fertilizer for crops.

So next time someone asks you what is calcium phosphate made from, don’t just shrug it off like old news. Teach them something they didn’t know before – and if all else fails just tell them it’s like when two ions fall in love (we’re not sure that last one will actually help with anything but hey it’s worth a try).