TITLE : EXPERIMENT 2 : DETERMINATION OF PERCENT

COMPOSITION IN HYDRATE COMPOUNDS

COURSE CODE : CHM131
NAME :

MATRIX NO. :

QASDINA BINTI FAUZI

2014279422

PARTNERS NAME :

MATRIX NO. :

NUR ASILAH BINTI ISMAIL

2014855942

NUR HANAN AUNI BINTI HAILMY

2014850154

RAJA MOHAMAD SYAFIQ BIN RAJA OTHMAN

2014465764

LECTURERS NAME :
MISS MUNIRAH BINTI ONN
DATE : 1ST JULY 2014 (TUESDAY)

OBJECTIVES

To calculate the number of mole water in barium chloride hydrate using percent
composition concept and the atomic mass.
To identify the unknown hydrated salt (Compound A).

INTRODUCTION
A hydrated salt is a salt which has a number of chemically bound watwer molecules attached to
the sat within its crystalline structure. These water molecules may be referred to as the waters of
crystallization or water hydration.
The formula for a hydrated salt is represented by the formula for the anhydrous salt followed by
a dot and the appropriate number of water molecules.
However some salts have their water bound so tightly that producing an anhydrous salt is nearly
impossible as in the case of iron trichloride hexahydrate. The salt would decompose before the
anhydrous salt would be formed. The mass of percentage of water in a hydrate can be determined
by heating a known amount of a sample until complete dehydration is accomplished.
Hydrated salt anhydrous salt + water
The dehydration step will result in a lower mass reading, so it is possible to determine the
amount of water that is present within the salt sample.
Total mass of hydrate salt = mass of the anhydrous salt + mass of water of hydration
The percent mass of water in the hydrate may also be easily calculated using a formula:
Percentage of water = mass of water loss X 100
mass of sample

APPARATUS AND CHEMICAL

Crucible and lid, clay triangle, tripod stand, Bunsen burner, crucible tongs and white tile.
6 M HNO3, 1 M HCl, barium chloride hydrate (Bacl2.xH20) and compound A.
(Compuond A can be any of the following:
LiSO4.H2O, MgSO4.7H2O, FeSO4.7H2O, SrCl2.6H2O, or CaSO4.2H2O)

METHOD
To complete two trials in one laboratory period, your instructor may require you to erform both
trials simultaneously (BaCl2.xH2O and copound A).
1. A crucible and lid was obtained. The crucible was cleaned and was checked for any stress
cracks, fractures or fissures before use (If the crucible was dirty, the apparatus was moved
to hood and was added 1-2 mL of 6 M HNO3 and was gently evaporated to dryness then
the crucible was inspected after cooling for any defects. If no defects were found the
crucible and lid should be supported on a clay triangle).
2. The initial mass of the crucible and lid was recorded.
3. The crucible was heated gently for five minutes before heating with an intense flame. The
heating was continued for two to three minutes with an intense flame until the bottom of
the crucible became red. The crucible was allowed to cool on the clay triangle before the
experiment was proceeded.
4. The mass of the fired cool crucible ad lid was recorded. Step 2 was repeated until we
had two crucible and lid mass readings that differ by no more than 10 mg or 0.010 g.
5. Between 1.5 to 2.0 grams of hydrated salt was added to the crucible and the combined
mass of the crucible, lid and salt was recorded
6. The crucible with the sample was placed on the clay triangle and the crucible lid was
removed to allow the evolving water molecules to escape during heating.
7. The sample was heated slowly and gradually by intensifying the heat. The sample was
drastically heated at a higher temperature for 10 minutes. The crucible was covered once
it was removed from heat and was allowed to cool at room temperature in the desiccator.
The mass of the crucible, lid and anhydrous salt was recorded using the same balance as
used in the earlier steps.
8. The sample was reheated for an additional two minutes with medium or high heat. The
combined mass of the crucible, lid and anhydrous salt was weighed and this process was
continued repeated until two concurrent readings within mg of each other were obtained.

DISPOSAL
All waste anhydrous salt was disposed in the Solid Waste container.

CLEAN-UP
1. The crucible was rinsed with 2-3 mL of 1 M HCl and was discarded in the Acid Waste
container.
2. The crucibke was rinsed three times with tap water and once with distilled water.

DATA
Table 2.1: Determination of Percentage of Water in Barium Chloride Hydrate
(BaCL2.xH2O)
Mass of empty crucible
Mass of crucible + hydrate before heating
Mass of crucible + hydrate after heating:
(i) 10 minutes 31.4748 g
(ii) 2 minutes 34.4731 g
(iii) 2 minutes 31.4728 g

29.9528 g
31.7420 g

Determine:
1. Mass of BaCl2.xH2O.
31.7420 g 29.9528 g = 1.7892 g
2. Mass of barium chloride anhydrous.
31.4728 g 29.9528 g = 1.5200 g
3. Mass of water in BaCl2.xH2O.
1.7892 g 1.5200 g = 0.2692 g
4. Percent composition of water in BaCl2.xH2O.
0.2692 g x 100 = 15.0458 %
1.7892 g
5. Formula of barium chloride hydrate.
Mass
Mol
Smallest Ratio

Formula

BaCl2
100 51.583 = 48.417
48.417
208
= 0.2328
0.2328
0.2328
=1
BaCl2

xH2O
51.583
51.583
18
= 2.8657
2.8657
0.2328
= 12.3098
= 12
12H2O

Empirical formula : BaCl2.12H2O

Table 2.2: Determination of Water Composition and Molecular Formula of Compound A

Mass of empty crucible

Mass of crucible + hydrate before heating
Mass of crucible + hydrate after heating:
(i) 10 minutes 23.0495 g
(ii) 2 minutes 23.0414 g
(iii) 2 minutes 23.04101 g

22.2630 g
23.868 g

Determine:
1. Mass of Compound A.
23.868 g 22.2630 g = 1.605 g
2. Mass of Compound A anhydrous.
23.0401 g 22.2630 g = 0.7771 g
3. Mass of water in Compound A.
1.605 g 0.7771 g = 0.8279 g
4. Percent composition of water in Compound A.
0.8279 g x 100 = 51.583 %
1.605 g
5. Identify Compound A (compare your result to the nearest percent composition of water in
the hydrates listed). Show all the calculations.

DISCUSSION
(a) We also need to cover the crucible that we filled with the hydrated salt after heating to
prevent it from evaporate to the environment.
(b) Make sure we clean the crucible and check for any stress cracks. We also must obey the
time given when heating and cooling crucible.
(c) When reading the temperature, the eye must be perpendicular to the
scale. We also must use the analytical balance to get more accuracy of mass. Then, repeat
the experiment to get average of mass and reading.

QUESTIONS
1. Give the reason why the empty crucible should be heated before starting the experiment?

To make sure no cracks at the crucible and also to remove any moisture present in
thecrucible by the process of heating which is it absorb any water from crucible.
2. Why the process of heating hydrate compound should start slowly at first?
To make sure the salt at crucible will not burned and to avoid the water from the salt
bedehydrate faster.
3. What is the important of percentage of composition of water in the hydrate compounds?
To calculate the mol of water use in the composition
4. Give comments on your results. Discuss from the accuracy aspect of your results
compared to the theory.
Based on experiment, that I have made, have different of the result from theory. Maybe
thechange result from the theory is while during heating and cooling. To get move
accuracy of my results compared to be theory, repeat the experiment to get a average
weight.

CONCLUSIONS
From the experiment, we can identified the unknown hydrated salt. The unknown hydrated salt is
MgSO4.7H2O.

REFERENCE
1. Principle Of General Chemistry (Laboratory Experiments For General Chemistry)
2. http://www.scribd.com/doc/60328875/chm2