Question Details

Plaster of Paris (POP) is

Options

A

CaSO₄ H₂O

B

CaSO₄ 2H₂O

C

CaSO₄

D

CaSO₄ 1/2H₂O

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:
CaSO4·12H2O
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:

CaSO4·2H2OCaSO4·12H2O+112H2O

Therefore, the formula corresponding to Plaster of Paris is indeed CaSO₄ 1/2H₂O.

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