Calcium is a not metal. It cannot be said to dissolve in the most common solvent - water. When Calcium is added to water a reaction occurs which is not solution, it is called oxidation. Hydrogen gas is given off and calcium atoms become ions, charged particles. The resulting solution is called calcium hydroxide solution.
Considering other solvents we turn to organic solvents. Liquids such as trichloroethane or carbon tetrachloride are non-polar solvents. They dissolve other non-polar organic molecules, but calcium is a metal and so is actually made up of ions (charged particles) and so will not dissolve in non-polar solvents.
The word "dissolve", therefore, does not describe what happens to calcium. Calcium reacts with polar solvents such as water to form solutions containing calcium ions. Calcium will not dissolve in non-polar solvents because it contains charged particles.
We can see from this argument that we must be careful with our use of words such as dissolve.
Considering other solvents we turn to organic solvents. Liquids such as trichloroethane or carbon tetrachloride are non-polar solvents. They dissolve other non-polar organic molecules, but calcium is a metal and so is actually made up of ions (charged particles) and so will not dissolve in non-polar solvents.
The word "dissolve", therefore, does not describe what happens to calcium. Calcium reacts with polar solvents such as water to form solutions containing calcium ions. Calcium will not dissolve in non-polar solvents because it contains charged particles.
We can see from this argument that we must be careful with our use of words such as dissolve.
