Hydrate Lab

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Pages: 3

Purpose: The hydrates in a group of compounds will be identified, the reversibility of the hydration reaction will be observed, and certain substances will be tested for efflorescence or deliquescence. Along with these, the amount of water lost by a sample of unknown hydrate upon heating will be determined. Finding this, the formula for the hydrate itself will be calculated. Overall, the properties of hydrates will be studied.

Procedure: From the laboratory textbook Chemical Principles by Slowinski, Wolsey, and Rossi (p. 35-36, chapter 6), our experiment began. First, we identified hydrates. A pea size amount of the compounds was placed in medium sized test tubes, one compound per tube. The compounds included the following: nickel chloride, potassium chloride, sodium tetraborate, sucrose, calcium carbonate, and barium chloride. The test tubes were fastened to the test tube holder and then placed over the flame at an angle and so that the flame was heating its inner-core. The test tube was heated until changes were able to take place. After removing from flame, the test tube was allowed to
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Salts were gently and intermittently heated until the color change was complete. The residue was dissolved in some water from the wash bottle. The solution was again heated and boiled to dryness. Color changes were recorded and the salts were allowed to cool. Third, a few crystals of each compound was placed on separate watch glasses and placed next to the dish prepared in the step just before. Both samples were weighed. The samples were then observed as they either gained or lost weight due to the intake or loss of water to the air. This depended on the humidity of the surrounding air. It was possible that the samples may remain unaffected. After about an hour, the samples were weighed again to detect changes in mass. The samples were observed throughout the hour and changes in color, structure, or degree of wetness was