Plaster of Paris (POP) is
Correct Answer :
CaSO₄ 1/2H₂O
Solution :
The correct option is CaSO₄ 1/2H₂O.
Detailed Explanation:
Plaster of Paris (commonly abbreviated as POP) is chemically known as calcium sulfate hemihydrate. The term "hemihydrate" refers to the presence of half a molecule of water of crystallization for every molecule of calcium sulfate (CaSO₄).
Its chemical formula is written as:
This representation means that two formula units of calcium sulfate share one molecule of water of crystallization, which can also be represented as 2CaSO₄·H₂O.
Plaster of Paris is prepared by heating gypsum (calcium sulfate dihydrate, CaSO₄·2H₂O) to a temperature of about 373 K (100 °C) in a kiln. At this temperature, gypsum loses three-fourths of its water of crystallization to form the hemihydrate:
Therefore, the formula corresponding to Plaster of Paris is indeed CaSO₄ 1/2H₂O.
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