Skill: M&M

PRACTICAL #
Title: The Formula of a Hydrate
Aim: To determine the formula of a hydrate.
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To determine the percent by mass of water in the hydrate

Theory:
Many of the salts we encounter in chemistry are hydrated. The hydrated salt has water
molecules that are chemically bonded to the ions of the salt. It is this water that is necessary
for the proper crystal structure of the salt. In a salt the number of moles of water is constant.
For example, the salt copper (II) sulphate occurs as CuSO45H2O. the water molecules are
loosely bonded to the ions and therefore they can be removed easily by the application of
heat. This results in the formation of the anhydrous salt.
In this laboratory a sample of hydrated barium chloride is gently heated to form the
anhydrous salt. Gravimetric analysis is then used to determine the formula of the hydrated
salt and the percent by mass of water in the hydrated salt.

Apparatus and Materials:

1 clean crucible and lid, 1 clay triangle, 1 tripod stand, 1 bunsen burner, balance, 1 pair of
tongs, 3g of hydrated barium chloride
Method:
The crucible and lid was heated intensely, supported on a clay triangle, for five
minutes. It was allowed to cool and the mass of the crucible and lid was determined.
The crucible and lid was handled with a tong for the remainder of the experiment.
Between 1.0 and 1.5 g of hydrated salt in the crucible with the lid on were weighed
and recorded accurately.
Using the tongs, the crucible with the sample was placed on the clay triangle, the lid
was set just off the lip of the crucible and the evolved water molecules were allowed
to escape.
Sample was slowly heated initially then gradually the heat was increased. The
crucible was not allowed to become red hot. The sample was heated for ten minutes.
The crucible was covered with the lid and was allowed to cool to room temperature.
The combined mass of the crucible, lid, and sample was determined.

 The sample was reheated for 2 minutes. Again the combined mass was measured. If
this second mass measurement of the anhydrous salt disagreed by greater than 0.01g,
the heating process was repeated until two consecutive readings differ by no more
than 0.01g.
Results:
Mass of crucible and lid

= 40.3g 0.01g

Mass of crucible and lid + hydrated salt = 41.2g 0.02g

Mass of crucible and lid + anhydrous salt = 41.1g 0.01g
Mass of water = 0.1g 0.01g
Mass of hydrated salt = 0.9g 0.01g
Mass of anhydrous salt = 0.8g 0.01g
Discussion:
In finding the ratio of anhydrous salt to water, the ratio of water was not an exact whole
number. The number obtained was 1.5. The theoretical value is 2. 1.5 was obtained due to
errors in the experiment therefore was rounded to the nearest whole number. Hence the ratio
of anhydrous salt to water is 1:2.
1:2
1 BaCl2 : 2 H2O
The empirical formula is BaCl22H2O.
The results also showed that in 0.9g of hydrated salt, there is 0.1g of water. This yielded a
percent mass by water of 11.1%. Therefore the hydrate contained 11.1% water.