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Calcium sulfate is a common laboratory and industrial chemical.
In the form of γ-anhydrite, it is used as a desiccant. It is also used as a coagulant in products like tofu.In the natural state, unrefined calcium sulfate is a translucent, crystalline white rock. When sold as a color-indicating variant under the name Drierite, it appears blue or pink due to impregnation with cobalt chloride, which functions as a moisture indicator.
The hemihydrateis better known as plaster of Paris, while the dihydrateoccurs naturally as gypsum. The anhydrous form occurs naturally as β-anhydrite.
Depending on the method of calcination of calcium sulfate dihydrate, specific hemihydrates are sometimes distinguished: alpha-hemihydrate and beta-hemihydrate.
They appear to differ only in crystal size. Alpha-hemihydrate crystals are more prismatic than beta-hemihydrate crystals and, when mixed with water, form a much stronger and harder superstructure.
Calcium sulphate