While many ordinary metals rust in open air calcium’s reactivity is so high that it completely succumbs to the elements, leaving no trace of its metallic nature. This is the reason many are surprised to see it as a metal at all. Some might confidently argue you that, no, calcium is a mineral found in dairy products.

To hold one of these ampules is the opposite but analogous reaction to that first experience with tungsten. Your brain does a minor double-take as if it’s a trick: this can’t be a metal, it hardly weighs anything! Each beautiful crystal sloshes around clinking like a metal should but feeling as though it’s popcorn rolling around in there. 100mm long glass ampule filled with beauteous crystals.

It makes you love science :-)