Definition

Noun A compound of calcium and phosphorus, specifically a salt of phosphoric acid containing calcium ions. It is the primary inorganic component of vertebrate bones and teeth, providing rigidity and strength.

Usage

Calcium phosphate is used as a precise chemical term to refer to the mineral family that forms the hard structure of bones and teeth. It is also used in contexts like nutrition, medicine, and materials science. - Primary Usage: Referring to the bone mineral. - Secondary Usage: Referring to compounds used in food additives, fertilizers, or supplements.

Examples

• In Biology/Medicine:
  • Hydroxyapatite, a crystalline form of calcium phosphate, is what makes bones hard.
  • A deficiency in calcium phosphate can lead to weakened bones.
• In Industry/Chemistry:
  • Tricalcium phosphate is a common food additive used as an anti-caking agent.
  • The laboratory synthesized a new type of calcium phosphate for ceramic implants.

Advanced Usage

• "Calcium phosphate deposition": The process by which this compound forms solid deposits, crucial in bone formation and sometimes in pathological conditions like kidney stones.
  • The study focused on the mechanisms of calcium phosphate deposition in developing bone tissue.
• "Calcium phosphate cement": A bioactive material used in orthopedic and dental surgeries to repair bone defects.
  • The surgeon used a calcium phosphate cement to fill the cavity in the patient's skull.

Variants and Related Words

• Apatite (n): A group of phosphate minerals, including hydroxyapatite, which is the main crystalline component of bone.
  • Tooth enamel is primarily composed of carbonated hydroxyapatite.
• Tricalcium phosphate (n): A specific compound (Ca₃(PO₄)₂) used in food and supplements.
  • Check the ingredient list for tricalcium phosphate.
• Dicalcium phosphate (n): Another specific compound (CaHPO₄) used as a dietary supplement and toothpaste abrasive.
• Hydroxyapatite (n): The specific, complex crystalline calcium phosphate that constitutes the majority of bone mineral.

Synonyms

• Bone mineral: (Contextual synonym) Refers specifically to the calcium phosphate salts in bone.
• Phosphate of lime: (Archaic/older term) An older name for calcium phosphate compounds.

Related Phrases/Compounds

• Calcium phosphate solubility product: A chemical term referring to the equilibrium constant for its dissolution.
  • Understanding the calcium phosphate solubility product is key to preventing scale in pipes.
• Calcium phosphate metabolism: The biological processes involving the absorption, use, and excretion of calcium and phosphate in the body.
  • Vitamin D is essential for proper calcium phosphate metabolism.

Noun

1. a phosphate of calcium; a main constituent of animal bones