Cement or Concrete?
Even construction professionals sometimes incorrectly use the terms cement and concrete interchangeably. Cement is actually an ingredient of concrete. It is the fine 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. A chemical reaction is triggered called hydration when water and cement are mixed in the right proportions. 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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