Identifying Hydrates Fritz was asked to determine the formulas of three sulfate (SO) hydrates of transition metals. First
he found the mass of each solid hydrate sample. Then he heated each hydrate gently for 10 minutes
to remove the water. The samples were allowed to cool for 30 minutes and then reweighed. The
results of the experiment are listed in the table below.
Sample Mass before
heating (g)
Mass after Mass of water Percent water in
heating (g) in hydrate (g) hydrate
Ratio of water
molecules to
metal ion
160
5:1
1
250
4:1
2.
223
151
3
7:1
281
155
1. Calculate the mass of water in each of the unknown hydrates. Record your answers in the data
table.