Plaster of paris absorb water to form monoclinic gypsum which is a hard substance.
$
\mathrm{CaSO}_4 \cdot \frac{1}{2} \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O} \stackrel{3 / 2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}}{\longrightarrow} \mathrm{CaSO}_4 \cdot 2 \mathrm{H}_2 \mathrm{O}
$
(monoclinic gypsum)