# Will chalk soon be obsolete?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-chalk-soon-be-obsolete/588586>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 11, 2011, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-chalk-soon-be-obsolete/588586 "2011-07-11T03:33:25Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 4

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-chalk-soon-be-obsolete/588586/61 "2011-07-16T20:10:22Z")

</div>

> [@Chronos](#):
>
> Quoth **monstro** :The next time the urge hits you, try Tums (or generic equivalent) instead. They taste better, and are easier to chew, but it’s basically the same stuff.

Not that I disagree with this advice, but Tums are calcium carbonate (with sugar), whereas blackboard chalk is calcium sulphate (gypsum). It is not likely to be as good for an upset stomach.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![thelabdude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dc4da7/32.png) [@thelabdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelabdude)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2011, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-chalk-soon-be-obsolete/588586/62 "2011-07-16T20:33:07Z")

</div>

Isn’t gypsum used to lower the pH of soil?

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/will-chalk-soon-be-obsolete/588586.md?page=3)