Plaster of Paris is prepared from **C) Gypsum**. Here's the explanation of how this happens:
### Explanation:
1. **Gypsum Composition**: Gypsum is a naturally occurring mineral composed mainly of calcium sulfate dihydrate (CaSO₄·2H₂O).
2. **Heating Gypsum**: To produce Plaster of Paris, gypsum is heated to about 150°C (302°F). This process removes some of the water from gypsum, converting it into calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CaSO₄·0.5H₂O).
\[
\text{2 CaSO}_4 \cdot 2 \text{H}_2\text{O} \xrightarrow{\text{heat}} \text{2 CaSO}_4 \cdot \frac{1}{2} \text{H}_2\text{O} + 3 \text{H}_2\text{O}
\]
3. **Result**: The resulting product, Plaster of Paris, is a fine powder that can be mixed with water to create a paste that hardens when set. This property makes it useful in construction, art, and medical applications.
### Other Options:
- **A) Quick Lime (Calcium Oxide)**: This is produced by heating limestone but is not the precursor for Plaster of Paris.
- **B) Slaked Lime (Calcium Hydroxide)**: This is obtained by adding water to quick lime, but it also does not yield Plaster of Paris.
- **D) Limestone (Calcium Carbonate)**: When heated, limestone produces quick lime, but it does not directly produce Plaster of Paris.
Therefore, the correct answer is **C) Gypsum**.