The calculated ratio of moles of water to moles of anhydrous salt in CuSO4 xH2O is determined to...
Question:
The calculated ratio of moles of water to moles of anhydrous salt in {eq}CuSO_4 \cdot xH_2O {/eq} is determined to be 5.12 to 1 in an experiment. Explain why this number should be rounded off to give a hydrate formula of {eq}CuSO_4 \cdot 5H_2O {/eq} and not written as {eq}CuSO_4 \cdot 5.12H_2O {/eq}. What could account for this discrepancy?
Hydrate Salt Compound:
A salt compound is a solid assembly of positively charged cations bonded to negatively charged anions. The ions combine in a certain ratio that makes the solid crystal structure uncharged, so the compound formula unit is also uncharged. If this crystal structure only contains the constituent ions, then the compound is said to be anhydrous. If water molecules are chemically incorporated into this structure, then the compound is said to be a hydrate. Some salt compounds have several different possible hydrate versions.
Answer and Explanation: 1
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View this answerThe formula unit of a salt compound represents the composition of its unit cell in the solid crystal structure. If the compound is anhydrous, then...
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Chapter 9 / Lesson 8Learn the anhydrate definition and what a hydrated compound is. Understand what an anhydrate is, the hydrate formula, and how to find the formula of the hydrate.