A widely used material in the construction industry which, when mixed with sand and aggregates, is used in the construction of buildings, bridges, and roads. The raw materials in its manufacture are limestone, silica-rich clay, gypsum (used to control the hardening process), and other materials such as sand or slag from a blast furnace used to adjust the mix. They are finely ground and burnt in a kiln at 1,500ºC to form clinker. The clinker is formed due to reactions and the evaporation of water, and results in the formation of carbon dioxide. Cement is chemically unstable. When water is added, it cures gradually hardening.