Lab #3 -November 13
In this lab, I was able to determine the percentage of water in CuSO4·5H2O. Given that the mass of the hydrated salt (CuSO4·5H2O)is known, it is also given that the mass lost is equivalent to the mass of the water. By comparing the mass lost to the mass of anhydrous salt left behind, I was able to calculate the percentage of water within the hydrated salt. I also accept my hypothesis because I expected the hydrate CuSO4 ⋅ 5H2O to have 36.06% H2O based on my calculations, and after heating up the hydrate, a certain percentage of its mass, consisting in water, evaporated. This percentage was, 40.89% H2O, and in fact, very close to the one we had previously predicted, proven by the small percent error of only -13.4%. Reflection Lab #3 This lab was really interesting and it made me want to know more about hydrates. I learned many salts are associated with water in their crystalline structure. Such compounds are hydrates. The bonds holding the water molecules to the salt are not very strong and are due to the ionic nature of the salt. Simple heating can drive off the water and leave an anhydrous salt behind. Since the mass of water is considered part of the hydrate mass. I learned through the data collected in this lab that water molecules are loosely bound to a salt under normal conditions. When these conditions were changed, like applying direct heat to the salt, water evaporated leaving an anhydrous salt behind. |