American University of Ras Al Khaimah

Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

CHEM 214 : General Chemistry Laboratory II

Spring Semester 2022

Experiment 3: PERCENT WATER IN A HYDRATE

Name of the Student: Mohammed Alghazali

Register No: 2020004530

Last Date of Submission: 2/20/2022

You are required to complete and upload the answered questionnaire as a single file on BB,

No Hard copies will be accepted.

 CHEMISTRY 214 : Experiment 3 : PERCENT WATER IN A HYDRATE

CONCEPT:

A HYDRATE is a compound that incorporates water molecules into its fundamental solid
structure. In a hydrate (which usually has a specific crystalline form), a defined number of water
molecules are associated with each formula unit of the primary material. 

 
Gypsum is a hydrate in which two water molecules are present for every formula unit of
CaSO4 in the solid. The chemical formula for gypsum is CaSO4 ·2 H2O and the chemical name is
calcium sulfate dihydrate. Note that the dot in the formula (or multiplication sign) indicates that
the waters are there. 

 
Other examples of hydrates are: lithium perchlorate trihydrate - LiClO4 ·3H2O; magnesium
carbonate pentahydrate - MgCO3 ·5 H2O; copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate - CuSO4 ·5 H2O;
Nickel(II) sulfate hexahydrate - NiSO4 ·6 H2O; and aluminum potassium sulfate dodecahydrate -
AlK(SO4)2 ·12 H2O

 
This water in the hydrate (referred to as "water of hydration") can be removed by heating the
hydrate. When all hydrating water is removed, the material is said to be anhydrous and is
referred to as an anhydrate.

 
CuSO4 ·5 H2O(s)  + HEAT --->  CuSO4 (s) + 5 H2O (g)
        Hydrate  Anhydrate

EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENT OF PERCENT HYDRATION:

Experimentally measuring the percent water in a hydrate involves first heating a known mass of
the hydrate to remove the waters of hydration and then measuring the mass of the anhydrate
remaining. The difference between the two masses is the mass of water lost. Dividing the mass
of the water lost by the original mass of hydrate used is equal to the fraction of water in the
compound. Multiplying this fraction by 100 gives the percent water in the hydrate.

 
EXAMPLE 1: When a 1.000 g sample of CuSO4 ·5 H2O(s) was heated so that the waters of
hydration were driven off, the mass of the anhydrous salt remaining was found to be 0.6390 g.
What is the experimental value of the percent water of hydration?

 
 CuSO4 ·5 + HEAT --- CuSO4 (s) + 5 H2O
H2O(s)  > (g)
    1.000 g  0.6390 g

 
1. Find the difference between the mass of hydrate before heating and the mass of the anhydrate
after heating. The difference is the mass of water last.

1.000 g - 0.6390 g = 0.3610 g

 
2. Dividing the mass of the water lost by the mass of hydrate used is equal to the fraction of
water in the compound. Multiplying this fraction by 100 gives the percent water in the hydrate.

(0.3610 g /1.000 g)(100) = 36.10%

CALCULATION OF PERCENT HYDRATION FROM THE CHEMICAL FORMULA

The theoretical (actual) percent hydration (percent water) can be calculated from the formula of
the hydrate by dividing the mass of water in one mole of the hydrate by the molar mass of the
hydrate and multiplying this fraction by 100.

 
EXAMPLE 2: What is the percent water in copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate, CuSO4 ·5 H2O?

 
1. Calculate the formula mass. When determining the formula mass for a hydrate, the waters of
hydration must be included.
1 Cu @ 63.55 g = 63.55 g
1 S @ 32.07 g = 32.07 g 2 H @ 1.01  = 2.02 g
4 O @ 16.00 g = 64.00 g 1 O @ 16.00 = 16.00 g
159.62 g/mol 18.02 g/mol
Formula Mass = 159.62 + 5(18.02) = 249.72 g/mol
2. Divide the mass of water in one mole of the hydrate by the molar mass of the hydrate and
multiply this fraction by 100.

Percent hydration = (90.10 g /249.72 g)(100) = 36.08%

CALCULATION OF THE PERCENT ERROR

Percent error = ( theoretical - experimental / theoretical value) x 100

EXAMPLE: Calculate the percent error from the previous examples.

Percent error = [( 36.08 - 36.10 )/ 36.08] x 100 = 0.06%

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE FOR PERCENT WATER IN A HYDRATE
[Change the information as per the chemical compound taken in the lab]

1. Accurately weigh a clean, dry evaporating dish. Record this mass.

2. Transfer approximately 3 grams of barium chloride dihydrate, BaCl2 ·2 H2O, into the weighed
evaporating dish and weigh the dish and its contents. Record this mass.
3. Place the dish on a ring stand and heat gently for 10 minutes. Then heat the sample more
strongly for 10 more minutes by bringing the flame of the Bunsen burner directly under the dish.
The residue should be almost pure white. Allow the dish to cool, then weigh it.
4. Heat the dish for another 5 minutes, cool, then weigh. If all the water has been driven off, the
two masses should agree.
5. Dispose of the barium chloride in the container provided.

DATA SHEET FOR PERCENT WATER IN A HYDRATE

Name _Mohammed Alghazali____ Hood No. _____1_________ Date _______17/02/2022_
1. Mass of empty evaporating dish ___27.94__grams
2. Mass of dish & BaCl2 ·2 H2O  _____29.94__grams
_____2.00_grams (#2 -
3. Mass of BaCl2 ·2 H2O 
#1)
4. Mass of dish & BaCl2 after first heating _____29.22__grams
______1.28_grams (#4 -
5. Mass of BaCl2 after first heating 
#1)
6. Mass of dish & BaCl2 after second heating  ____29.22___grams
____1.28__grams (#6 -
7. Mass of BaCl2 after second heating 
#1)
8. Mass of water lost ______0.72_grams
9. Percent hydration %

__36%__%

Percent hydration = mass of water lost / total mass of

hydrated compound x 100%

= 0.72g/2.00g x 100% = 36%

CALCULATION OF PERCENT HYDRATION FROM THE CHEMICAL FORMULA

Calculate the percent hydration for barium chloride dihydrate, BaCl2 ·2 H2O(s).

Atomic masses: H = 1.01; O = 16.00; Cl = 35.45; Ba = 137.33

%hydration = mass of water in hydrated compound / MM of hydrated x 100%

MM of hydrated Copper Sulfate = 5 x (1.01 x 2 + 16.00) = 90.1

MM of hydrated Copper Sulfate = 63.55 + 32.07+ 16.00x4 +5 (1.01 x 2 +16.00 )= 249.72

= 90.1/249.72 x100%

=36.08%

 
Theoretical value  _36.08____%

PERCENT ERROR
Determine the percent error between the experimental value and the calculated value.

% error = (Theoretical value – experimental value)/ Theoretical value x 100%

(36.08-36.00)/36.08 x 100%
 
Percent error  __0.22___%

REMINDERS:

1. Remember that barium is toxic. The used barium chloride should be p ut in the waste
container provided.

2. In determining the mass of water lost and the moles of anhydrous sample, the lower mass of
the two should be used, this will usually be after the second heating, but if the mass after the first
heating is lower, have them use that figure.

3. It is very important that the evaporating dish cools to room temperature before weighing. If it
is not cool, convection currents will be set up that will lower the mass.