Question

(a) What will happen if heating is not controlled while preparing plaster of Paris?
(b) Write an equation to show the reaction between plaster of Paris and water.

Answer 1

(a) If heating is not controlled while preparing POP, then all the water of crystallisation of gypsum is eliminated and it turns into a dead burnt plaster.

(b) An equation to show the reaction between plaster of Paris and water is:

$CaS{O}_4.\frac{1}{2}{H}_{2}O+1\frac{1}{2}{H}_{2}O\to CaS{O}_4.2H_{2}O$