What do you call a dry mix of chalk and clay that fuses to form cement?

The term for a dry mix of chalk and clay that fuses to form cement is indeed cement. This substance is produced through a process that involves heating these raw materials to a high temperature in a kiln, which facilitates their chemical transformation. As they cool, they form clinker, which is then ground to produce fine powder known as cement. This cement serves as a crucial binder in construction, allowing for the creation of concrete when mixed with aggregates and water.

Cement specifically refers to the powdered material that hardens when mixed with water and is used as a fundamental component in concrete, which is an entirely different mixture that includes aggregates. Therefore, understanding the distinction between these terms helps in identifying their specific functions and relevance in construction and materials science.

The other terms in the question relate to different aspects of construction and materials. Aggregate refers to the inert particles that are mixed with cement and water to make concrete, concrete is the final product resulting from combining cement, water, and aggregates, and slag is a byproduct from metal smelting which can be used as a supplementary material in concrete but is not related to the fundamental definition of cement. Thus, recognizing the specific compositions and uses of these materials is key to understanding their roles in residential design and construction.