CaSO4
|cal-ci-um-sul-fate|
/ˈkælsiəm ˈsʌlfeɪt/
calcium + sulfate compound (CaSO4)
Etymology
'CaSO4' is a formula combining the names 'calcium' and 'sulfate'. 'calcium' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'calx', where 'calx' meant 'lime'. 'sulfate' (English spelling 'sulfate' or British 'sulphate') originates from New Latin/Modern French (from Medieval Latin 'sulphas'), ultimately related to Latin/Arabic roots for 'sulfur'.
'calcium' entered scientific English via New Latin 'calcium' (from Latin 'calx' meaning 'lime'); 'sulfate' developed from Medieval Latin 'sulphas' to Modern Latin/French 'sulfate' and then into English as the name for salts of sulfuric acid.
Initially, 'calx' referred to lime (the substance); over time 'calcium' came to name the chemical element and its compounds. 'Sulfate' originally meant a salt related to sulfuric acid and has retained that core meaning while extending to the anion and its salts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an inorganic chemical compound with the formula CaSO4; occurs in nature mainly as gypsum (CaSO4·2H2O, the hydrated form) and as anhydrite (the anhydrous form), and is used in plaster, drywall, and cement.
CaSO4 is commonly found as gypsum and is used to make plaster for construction.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the chemical formula notation representing one calcium cation and one sulfate anion per formula unit; used in chemical equations and material specifications.
In the reaction equation, CaSO4 precipitated from the solution.
Last updated: 2025/09/08 09:56