Hydroxylapatite

Hydroxylapatite (pronounced: hy·drox·y·lap·a·tite, /haɪˌdrɒksɪˈlæpətaɪt/) is a naturally occurring mineral form of calcium apatite. Its formula is Ca5(PO4)3(OH), but it is often written as Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 to denote that the crystal unit cell comprises two entities.

Etymology

The term "Hydroxylapatite" is derived from the Greek words 'hydro' meaning water, 'xylos' meaning wood, 'apatite' used to describe a group of phosphate minerals. The term was first used in the 19th century to describe the main mineral found in tooth enamel and bone.

Related Terms

Calcium: A chemical element required for the survival of living organisms.
Apatite: A group of phosphate minerals which includes hydroxylapatite.
Mineral: A naturally occurring substance that is solid and stable at room temperature.
Crystal: A solid material whose atoms are arranged in a highly ordered, repeating pattern extending in all three spatial dimensions.
Tooth Enamel: The hard, outer surface layer of our teeth that serves to protect against tooth decay.
Bone: The rigid organ that constitutes part of the vertebrate skeleton in animals.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Hydroxylapatite
Wikipedia's article - Hydroxylapatite

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Hydroxylapatite