Experiment 4 - Water of Hydration

Procedure:

Part A - Removing Water from a Hydrated Salt

1. Obtain a clean crucible and lid from your instructor. Inspect the crucible for cracks.
2. Use an analytical balance and determine the mass of the empty crucible. Record the mass of the empty crucible to four decimal places on the data sheet.
   
   

   Record the mass of the empty crucible to four decimal places on the data sheet.

   
   
3. Use an analytical balance and weigh approximately 4.0 +/- 0.1 grams of hydrate into the crucible. Record the mass of the crucible and the hydrate to four decimal places on the data sheet.
4. Place the crucible on the clay triangle and heat gently by holding the bunsen burner in a sweeping motion for about 12 minutes.
   
   

   	Hold the bunsen burner under the crucible in a sweeping motion

   
   
   
5. Allow to cool to room temperature inside the desicooler and weigh the crucible and the content. Record the mass of the crucible and the content (after 1st heating) to four decimal places on the data sheet.
6. After weighing, place the crucible back on the clay triangle and reheat content for about 5 minutes. Allow to cool and reweigh. Record the mass of the crucible and the content (after re-heating) to four decimal places on the data sheet. If you have done a good job in heating, the mass of the crucible and residue after the 1st heating and the 2nd heating should not differ by more than 0.01 gram.