GENERAL CHEMISTRY

(CHM420)
LABORATORY REPORT
(AS202)

NAME: HUSNA INSYIRAH BT SAMAD

STUDENT ID: 2017411714
EXPERIMENT 2: WATER OF HYDRATION
LECTURER’S NAME: SHARIL FADLI MOHAMAD ZAMRI
PARTNER’S NAME: NUR SYAHIRA AQIELAH BT HASNI
DATE OF EXPERIMENT: 22/11/2017
DATE OF SUBMISSION: 28/11/2017
TITLE
Water of Hydration

PURPOSE
To determine the percentage of water in an unknown hydrate qualitatively and
quantitatively.

INTRODUCTION
Solid chemical compounds that have been exposed to the atmosphere for any length of
time will mostly contain some water. In most cases the water is present in quite small
amounts and is only absorbed on the surface of the crystals. This absorbed water can
usually be removed by gentle heating. Other solid compounds will contain larger amounts of
water that is bound to the compound more strongly. These compounds are called hydrates
and they are usually ionic salts. The water present in these salts, called the water of
hydration is generally bound to the cation in the compound. Examples of hydrates are

CaSO4 ∙ 2H2O Calcium sulphate dehydrate

CoCl2 ∙ 6H2O Cobalt(ll) chloride hexahydrate
Na2CO3 ∙ H2O Sodium carbonate monohydrate

The word hexahydrate in cobalt(ll) chloride hexahydrate for example indicates that six water
molecules are bound in the substance. The dot is used to separate water molecules from
the anhydrous compound (without water). Most anhydrous compound s have a strong
tendency to absorb water vapour from the air, thus becoming hydrated compounds. In this
experiment, the amount of water in the hydrated compound will be determined qualitative
and quantitatively. In the qualitative part, the behaviour of a hydrate will be observed when
the sample is heated. For quantitative part, amount of water driven off can be determined
by heating the sample to constant weight. From the amount of mass lost, the percentage of
water in the sample can be determined. This information can be used to calculate the
formula of the hydrate.

CHEMICALS AND APPARATUS

Finely ground copper(ll) sulphate pentahydrate CuSO4 ∙ 5H2O
Unknown hydrated compounds:
MgSO4 ∙ xH2O
BaCl2 ∙ xH2O
NiCl2 ∙ xH2O
Analytical balance Bunsen burner
Crucible and cover Tile
Clay triangle Test tube
Tripod stand
PROCEDURE

A. Qualitative determination of water

1. A clean and dry test tube was prepared and hold with a clamp that mouth within 15-
20 degrees above the horizontal.
2. The test tube was filled with a scoop of copper(ll) sulphate pentahydrate. The
bottom of the test tube was heated gently to avoid spattering. Any changes were
observed and recorded in the datasheet.
3. The test tube and its content was allowed to cool to room temperature.
4. A few drops of water was added into the test tube. The observation was recorded.

B. Quantitative determination of water in a hydrate.

1. The name of salt analysed was recorded.
2. A crucible and a cover were cleaned by tap water and rinsed by distilled water. Then,
the crucible and cover was placed on the clay triangle. The cover was slightly opened
to allow the moisture to escape when the crucible was heated. The crucible and
cover was heated using a Bunsen burner for five minutes. Then, the crucible was
allow to cool to room temperature and its mass was determined. Avoid touching the
crucible or cover with hand because the moisture from skin will add to the crucible
weight. The same balance was used for the successive weighing of the same sample.
3. 1000 to 1500 g of hydrated compound was placed into the weighed crucible. The
crucible and content were covered and weighed. The crucible with sample and cover
were placed onto the clay triangle. The cover was adjusted to be slightly ajar. the
crucible was begin to be heated gently to avoid spattering and the intensity of the
flame increased after five minutes and heated to redness for about five minutes.
4. The crucible was closed after heating and allowed to be cooled for five minutes and
the mass was determined. The heating and weighing were repeated until the results
of two successive weighing agree to be within 0.05g to ensure all water was
completely driven out of the compound.
DATA
QUESTIONS
1. Write a balanced chemical equation for the decomposition of copper(ll) sulphate
pentahydrate.
CuSO4 ∙ 5H2O → CuSO4 + 5H2O

2. Calculate the percentage of water in your sample based on the final weighing .
% of water = mass of water lost (g) x 100%
mass of hydrated salt (g)
= 0.4778g x 100%
1.0252g
= 46.61%
3. Determine the formula of your hydrate.
Mw NiCl2 = 129.67 g/mol
Mw H2O = 18.02 g/mol
Mass (g) Mole (mol) ratio
NiCl2 ∙ nH2O 1.0252
NiCl2 0.5474 0.0042 1
nH2O 0.4778 0.0265 6

NiCl2 ∙ 6H2O

DISCUSSION
In this experiment, we are going to determine the percentage of water in copper(ll) sulphate
pentahydrate and nickel(ll) chloride qualitatively and quantitatively. In part A, copper(ll)
sulphate pentahydrate is blue in colour in crystal solid form before heating. Then, it turns to
light blue in the form of powder during the heating as water is being removed. After
heating, the colour fades to white in solid powder. When we add a few drops of distilled
water into the test tube, the colour of the solid becomes dark blue.

In part B, we are heating NiCl2 ∙ nH2O in a crucible for three time to record the total mass
lost by sample. The mass of original sample is 1.0252 g and the total mass lost is 0.4778 g
due to the evaporation of water during heating. Thus, the percentage of water in sample
that we have calculated is 46.61%.

The result may not be very accurate due to some of the mistakes happened during the
experiment. The test tube used may not be cleaned and dried properly and thus it affected
the reaction. Then, the cover of the crucible was not slightly opened to allow moisture
escape when heated. Besides, the observers may touch the crucible or the cover and thus it
will increase the mass of the crucible. All these mistakes can contribute to the inaccurate
results.
CONCLUSION
The percentage of water in nickel(ll) chloride is 46.61% and the ratio is 1:6.
Thus, the formula for the unknown hydrate is NiCl2 ∙ 6H2O.

REFERENCE
1. Basic Chemistry, 9th edition International Students Version Leo J Malone (Saint Louis
Urov, Southwestern Illinois College)
2. Chemistry for Matriculations College semester 1, 5 th Edition, Oxford Fajar
Publications.
3. Raymond Chang and Kenneth A. Goldsby, chemistry, eleventh edition published by
Mc Graw Hill copyright 2013.