Cement or Concrete?
Even construction professionals sometimes incorrectly use the terms cement and concrete interchangeably. But cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. It's the fine, gray powder that, when mixed with water, sand, and gravel or crushed stone (fine and coarse aggregate), forms the rock-like mass known as concrete.
Cement acts as the binding agent or glue. When concrete is mixed in the right proportions, water triggers a chemical reaction in cement called hydration. This reaction causes the cement to harden and bind the aggregate into a solid mass.
The process of hydration is the key to concrete's remarkable strength and versatility. When freshly mixed, concrete can be molded into almost any form. Yet when hardened, its strength and durability often exceed that of natural stone.
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