Percent Water in a Hydrate - Student Laboratory Kit

By: The Flinn Staff


Can a dry powder actually contain water molecules? The answer is yes-when the powder in question is a hydrate! Hydrates are pure substances that contain water molecules embedded in their crystal structure. In this experiment, students heat a solid hydrate to remove the water and then calculate the percent water by measuring the mass of the solid before and after heating. From this percent water value, students identify the hydrate from a list of possible unknowns. A great introduction to gravimetric analysis. Includes Teacher Notes, extensive background material, reproducible student handouts, and all necessary crystalline hydrate samples and specialized equipment.

Complete for 30 students working in pairs.