What is gypsum?
Gypsum is an evaporate mineral most commonly found in layered sedimentary deposits in association with halite, anhydrous, sulfur, calcite and dolomite. Gypsum is very similar to anhydrous, the chemical differences between the two is that gypsum contains two waters and anhydrous contains no water. Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral.
It is a soft white or grey mineral consisting of hydrated calcium sulphate. It occurs chiefly in sedimentary deposits and is used to make plaster of Paris and fertilizers.
Gypsum is an evaporate mineral most commonly found in layered sedimentary deposits in association with halite, anhydrous, sulfur, calcite and dolomite. Gypsum is very similar to anhydrous, the chemical differences between the two is that gypsum contains two waters and anhydrous contains no water. Gypsum is the most common sulfate mineral.
It is a soft white or grey mineral consisting of hydrated calcium sulphate. It occurs chiefly in sedimentary deposits and is used to make plaster of Paris and fertilizers.
History
For 2000 years, the Chinese have been using calcium sulphate to coagulate soy milk to manufacture tofu. The word gypsum is derived from the Greek word γύψος (gypsos), "chalk" or "plaster". Gypsum was well known in Ancient cultures, as it has a very long history of use in medicine and dentistry. A Persian pharmacist called Abu Mansur Muwaffaq is believed to have first described one of the major products of gypsum (also known as plaster of Paris) around 975 A.D., but the first known use of the compound was in 1869.
For 2000 years, the Chinese have been using calcium sulphate to coagulate soy milk to manufacture tofu. The word gypsum is derived from the Greek word γύψος (gypsos), "chalk" or "plaster". Gypsum was well known in Ancient cultures, as it has a very long history of use in medicine and dentistry. A Persian pharmacist called Abu Mansur Muwaffaq is believed to have first described one of the major products of gypsum (also known as plaster of Paris) around 975 A.D., but the first known use of the compound was in 1869.