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Imagine strolling down a bustling city street. Beneath your feet, the sidewalk may be covered in discarded gum and the shuffle of passersby, but its foundation is unmistakably hard, smooth, and gray. What’s less obvious is what to call that material: Is it concrete or cement? And is there a real distinction between the two?
Although often used interchangeably, concrete and cement refer to distinct but closely related elements of the materials that form many everyday structures, like blocks, walls, and flooring. Simply put, concrete is the gray, grainy material used in construction, while cement is one of the key ingredients in making concrete.
Cement appears as a dry powder that looks very different from the wet substance seen coming from cement trucks. It’s created by grinding up minerals and mixing them together. The specific minerals used can vary: Limestone and clay are common today, but even seashells or volcanic ash can be incorporated. After the ingredients are combined, they’re heated in a kiln at an intense 2642°F to form durable compounds, then cooled, crushed, and mixed again.
Cement | Lior2/iStock via Getty ImagesAlone, cement is not sufficient for construction. It must be combined with water and a material like sand to create a workable paste known as concrete. Once poured into a mold, concrete quickly sets into a rigid, stone-like material, contributing to its status as one of the most essential building elements around the globe.
Whether you're carving your name into fresh concrete on a sidewalk, washing your patio, or admiring the harsh lines of Brutalist architecture, you're interacting with concrete. But if you're handling dry, powdery substance that hasn't been mixed yet, you're working with cement instead.
