Question

Boojho's sister broke a white dove, a symbol of peace, made of plaster of Paris (POP). Boojho tried to reconstruct the toy by mang a powder of the broken pieces and then making a paste by mixing water. Will he succeed in his effort? Justify your answer

Answer 1

Plaster of Paris:

• Gypsum is heated to form the compound, plaster of Paris.
• ${\mathrm{CaSO}}_4.2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to {\mathrm{CaSO}}_4.\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+\raisebox{1ex}{$3$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}.$
• ${\mathrm{CaSO}}_4.\raisebox{1ex}{$1$}\!\left/ \!\raisebox{-1ex}{$2$}\right.{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$ is the chemical formula for plaster of Paris, often known as calcium sulphate hemihydrate.

Justification:

• No, he won't succeed in his endeavours. Plaster of Paris (POP) hardens when a toy is made with it due to the formation of new chemical structures, which is an irreversible chemical shift.
• The original pop cannot be recreated because its characteristics have changed.
• Boojho won't be able to use water and powder to fix the broken pieces as a result.