Formula Of A Hydrate

PRELAB
Read the section in your textbook on The Formula of a Hydrate (Use the Index to
find this). Then answer these questions:
1.) What is a hydrate?
2.) How are hydrates named? Why are prefixes used to name hydrates?
3.) How is the formula of a hydrate determined in the lab?
4.) How are hydrates used in industry and society?

I. Purpose
In this experiment, you will determine the percent water by weight in a hydrate of
CuSO4. You will then calculate the mole ratio of water to anhydrous CuSO4.

II. Equipment/Materials
Evaporating dish Ring stand Copper Sulfate
Crucible tongs Iron ring Hydrate
Stirring Rod Wire gauze CuSO4 . ??? H2O
Balance Bunsen Burner

III. Procedure
1. Set up equipment shown by your teacher.
2. Heat the evaporating dish for 2 or 3 minutes and cool.
3. Measure the mass of the evaporating dish to a hundredth of a
gram and record.
4. Put about 2 grams of the copper sulfate hydrate in the
evaporating dish and record the mass to the nearest hundredth of a gram.
5. Heat the evaporating dish and hydrate slowly at first, then heat
strongly for 5 minutes. (CAUTION: hot crystals may explode, protect your
eyes!)
6. Use the stirring rod to break up the crystals as needed. Be careful
not to lose any of the compound while breaking up the crystals.
7. Let the assembly cool and measure and record the mass.
8. Add a few drops of water to the material in the dish and record
your observations.

IV. Data
Record your measurements in a data table of your own design. Describe the
appearance of the hydrate before and after heating; and after adding a few drops of water.

V. Calculations
1. Determine the mass of the hydrate.
2. Determine the mass of water lost during the heating process.
3. Calculate the percent of water in the hydrate.
Percent Water in the Hydrate = (mass of water / mass of hydrate) X 100%
4. Calculate the number of moles of water lost
Mass of water lost/molar mass of water =
 Formula Of A Hydrate
5. Calculate the moles of anhydride
Mass of anhydrous CuSO4 after heating / molar mass of CuSO4 =
6. Determine the mole ratio of water to anhydride by dividing the moles of water
by moles of CuSO4. Express the ratio as whole numbers.

VI. Questions
1. What is your percent water in the hydrate in the experiment?
2. Why must the evaporating dish be cool before weighing?
3. Why must the compound be weighed as soon as the assembly is cool?
4. Does the water in this compound have anything to do with its color?
Explain.

VII. Discussion of Error

Obtain the actual ratio of water molecules to anhydrous CuSO4 from your
teacher. If your answer is different, provide a reasonable explanation of why this is so.
In general, would you expect your estimate to be larger or smaller than the actual
number? Explain.

VIII. Conclusion
Use your own words to write a conclusion. The conclusion should be 2 to 3
paragraphs long:
a. Claim: Were you able to accurately determine the number of water
molecules in a formula unit of copper sulfate hydrate?
b. Evidence: What evidence is there in your data to support or not
support your hypothesis? Use your data and calculations to support
your claim.
c. Reasoning: How does your data support the scientific principle
explored in this lab? This is a research section. Use your text as one
reference and you will need one additional reference beyond the text
and the notes. (research Copper Sulfate, and find the formula of its
most common hydrate).
d. Connections to the Real World: Explain how your results are related
to something in the real world or answer questions about this. What
are hydrates used for in society?
e. Further Experiment: Give an idea for an experiment determines the
composition of another compound. You will need to research how this
can be done. You may not describe the same experiment with
different materials.