What Does
Calcium Sulfate Mean?
Calcium sulfate is a chemical compound comprised of calcium, sulfur and oxygen, with the chemical formula CaSO4. Calcium sulfate is an inorganic compound with a white appearance. It is also considered a calcium salt. Calcium sulfate is frequently found in its dihydrate and hemihydrate forms, where water is attached to the calcium sulfate molecule. While the dihydrate and hemihydrate forms are slightly soluble in water, the anhydrous version of calcium sulfate is not soluble in water and many types of solvents.
Corrosionpedia Explains Calcium Sulfate
Calcium sulfate is primarily obtained through the mining of gypsum, which once extracted from the earth, is then purified so that mostly calcium sulfate is left behind.
Calcium sulfate is used for many different purposes. One of its most common applications is for use as a plaster. Drywall sheets and drywall mud almost always have calcium sulfate as the primary substance in their composition. Calcium sulfate can also be used to make paper and cement. Because it can be safely ingested in small amounts, it is often used as a calcium supplement or in baking products for anti-caking purposes.
Some properties of calcium sulfate:
- Molecular weight: 136.134 g/mol
- Melting point: 1,460°C (2,660°F)