Gypsum

Gypsum is the soft material which is composed of calcium sulfate dihydrate. The chemical formula for Gypsum is CaSO₄·2H₂O. It is considered as the second softest minerals on the Mohs Hardness scale.  There is a translucent kind of gypsum is known as “selenite”, and other one is special luster is called “alabaster”. Gypsum is the sedimentary mineral.  It is usually found in the underground near the deposits of limestone or other minerals formed by evaporation. The pure white crystal called alabaster is the most common forms of raw gypsum. The unprocessed gypsum is forms near the desert terrain and its crystals resemble the petals of a flower. Gypsum is mined in the quarries or underground mines. It is mined in France, Mexico, Utah, Colorado, Nevada, Texas, and California.

Physical properties

Normally gypsum is the water soluble, and it exhibits a retrograde solubility in contrast to many other salts. And at high temperature it becomes less soluble.  Gypsum crystals are found to contain anion water and hydrogen bonding.

Use of Gypsum

 In the recent years production of gypsum has been more than doubled, due to its increased usage. It is used in wall boards and tiles, because it will resist fire and water so well and it protects building against both heat and water.  Wall board is used in making new wall in buildings. It is used in plaster of Paris, cement fertilizers, and omamental stone. Gypsum is the main ingredient in the cement mixture due to its hardening properties. When water is added with gypsum, it becomes hard as rock.

More importantly gypsum is used in the formation of drywall panels. Gypsum drywall consists of approximately 90% of gypsum and 10% paper facing and backing. Over 80% of gypsum mined is used in the manufacturing products such as dry wall. During the home construction; to form a finished wall, a drywall panel is nailed into place. Basically gypsum is fire resistant and heat resistant, so that it forms the barrier between the combustible wooden frames and the room itself. 

Gypsum is also used in strengthening soil weakened by adding too much clay. A gardener normally uses to make change of weak soil by adding a layer of gypsum, but does not change the soils acidity levels. For adobe mud, gypsum enriched soil can be used as an alternative. Gypsum is considered as non toxic, so that it is also used as the mild abrasive in tooth pastes.

Questions:

• Explain Gypsum?
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