Hydrated Crystals

NGSSS:
SC.912.P.8.7 Interpret formula representations of molecules and compounds in terms of
composition and structure.
SC.912.P.8.9 Apply the mole concept and the law of conservation of mass to calculate
quantities of chemicals participating in reactions.
Background:
Hydrates are crystalline compounds with water molecules incorporated in their structure.
The ratio of moles of water to one mole of the compound is a whole number which can
be determined experimentally by heating the hydrate to remove the water. For example,
in the hydrated compound copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO45H2O), the ratio is 5:1.
There are 5 molecules of water for each formula unit of copper (II) sulfate. Once the water
has been removed from a hydrated compound, it has become anhydrous. The ions in the
compound are associated via ionic bonding. The atoms in water molecules are associated
covalently. The ionic compound and the covalent compound are associated by a
coordinate covalent bond. The overall structure can be viewed as an ionic compound. It
can be thought that water is trapped inside the ionic crystal lattice and heating the
substance can provide the energy necessary to liberate the water molecules.
The percentage error between the experimental and theoretical percentages of water in
a hydrate can be calculated using the following equation:

% Error =

|experimental value-theoretical value|

x 100
theoretical value

Purpose or Problem Statement:

To evaluate the relationship between mass and chemical change.
To derive the empirical formula of a hydrated salt using gravimetric analysis.
Safety:
Always wear safety goggles and a lab apron
Hot objects will not appear to be hot.
Vocabulary: hydrates, anhydrous, gravimetric analysis, coordinate covalent bond,
endothermic, exothermic
Materials (individual or per group):
Hot plate
Balance (preferably 2 decimal places)
Hydrated MgSO4.nH2O (Epsom salts)
Crucible
Crucible tongs
400 ml beaker

Procedure:
1. Allow hot plate to warm up on the high setting.
2. Measure to the nearest 0.01 g the mass of a clean, dry crucible and record.
3. Add provided hydrated MgSO4 to the crucible and measure the mass of the
crucible plus hydrate to the nearest 0.01 g. Record the mass.
4. Observe and describe the properties of the solid hydrate before heating
5. Place the crucible with hydrate on the hot plate and cover with the large beaker.
6. After a few minutes write down what you observe happening inside the large
beaker, and then carefully remove the large beaker while wearing a hot mitt or
with beaker tongs.
7. Continue heating the crucible and contents for a total of about 10 minutes.
8. Use the crucible tongs to remove the crucible from the hot plate, allow it to cool,
and determine the mass of crucible plus the anhydrous contents. Record this
mass.
9. Reheat the crucible and contents for about 5 minutes, cool, and mass it again.
10. If these last two masses do not agree within 0.02g, you should reheat the
crucible and contents a third time.
11. Dispose of the MgSO4 according to your teachers directions, and then clean the
beakers and crucible.
Observations/Data:
Table 1
Observations
Solid Hydrated MgSO4
Large beaker during initial heating
Solid Anhydrous MgSO4
Table 2
Mass Data
Mass of crucible
Mass of crucible + MgSO4 hydrate
Mass MgSO4 hydrate
Mass of crucible + anhydrous
MgSO4
Mass anhydrous MgSO4
Mass of water in MgSO4 hydrate