What is Plaster of Paris fundamentally derived from chemically?

Answer

Calcium sulfate hemihydrate

Plaster of Paris, often abbreviated as POP, is chemically identified as a specific form of gypsum derived primarily from calcium sulfate hemihydrate. This powdery substance is the reactive component used in orthopedic casting. When this powder is incorporated with water, it undergoes a rapid chemical reaction. This exothermic process causes the hemihydrate to revert to its fully hydrated, solid, and rigid crystalline state, which is known as calcium sulfate dihydrate, or simply gypsum. This transformation from powder to solid structure is what generates the necessary external support to immobilize and stabilize fractured bones during the healing process. The specific crystalline structure achieved upon setting is what gives the cast its characteristic rigidity.

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