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Calcium Sulphate

Calcium sulphate

Calcium sulfate is an inorganic chemical compound that is normally found in three forms named as anhydrous (Anhydrite), dihydrate (Gypsum), and hemihydrate (Plaster of Paris). Anhydrite is a colorless, but inert pigment which is served as a paper filler. Calcium sulfate dihydrate aids in the manufacture of portland cement. Gypsum works as a pigment in paints, enamels, glazes, and paper. Plaster of Paris is utilized for wall plaster, moldings, and statuary. Its forms are white solids. They are barely soluble in water. Plaster of Paris is a Hemi-hydrate of calcium sulfate obtained from gypsum.

The particle size of this calcium salt is 0.2 micrometers. It is an odorless, white powder. It is a monoclinic or rhombic crystalline solid. Crystals sometimes have a blue, gray, or reddish tinge. It is a hygroscopic compound. Insoluble anhydrite form has the same crystal structure as mineral anhydrite and soluble anhydrite is obtained in granular form it has indices of refraction: 1.569, 1.575, 1.613. this solid compound has a high affinity with water.

Various applications are given below;

  • It serves as a firming agent.
  • It functions as a flour treatment agent and sequestrant.
  • It is used as an opacifying agent and pearlescent.
  • It is utilized as a soil conditioner.
  • It is used in the paper industry.
  • Calcium Sulphate is utilized in tofu as a coagulant.
  • It also functions as a moisture indicator.

Calcium sulfate, a compound composed of calcium, sulfur, and oxygen, exhibits several chemical properties. One significant property is its role as a desiccant, meaning it has the ability to absorb water molecules from its surroundings, making it useful in applications such as drying agents in construction materials.

Calcium sulfate also demonstrates solubility characteristics. While it has low solubility in water, it can dissolve to a certain extent, forming a solution known as calcium sulfate solution. This property is crucial in various industrial processes like the manufacture of gypsum products.

Another important chemical property is its ability to undergo thermal decomposition. When heated to high temperatures, calcium sulfate decomposes into calcium oxide and sulfur dioxide gases. This property is exploited in industries such as cement production, where calcium sulfate acts as a mineral additive to regulate setting time.

Furthermore, calcium sulfate can participate in double displacement reactions, exchanging ions with other compounds in solution, leading to the formation of insoluble precipitates. These properties collectively make calcium sulfate a versatile compound with diverse industrial applications.