Alite

Alite, also known as tricalcium silicate, is a magical ingredient found in cement that helps make buildings and roads strong and sturdy. It's like the glue that holds all the little particles of sand and gravel together!

Imagine playing with some sandy playdough. The sand and playdough might not stay together very well, but if you add a special ingredient that helps them stick together, you could form a strong, stable structure like a castle. That's kind of what alite does in cement.

When water is mixed with cement, it creates a chemical reaction that turns the alite into a super strong crystal. This crystal grows and spreads throughout the mixture, creating a strong and durable material that can withstand a lot of pressure and weight.

Without alite, buildings and roads would easily break and crumble apart. But thanks to this special ingredient, we have sturdy structures that can last for many years to come!