EXPERIMENT 2: WATER OF CRYSTALLIZATION
OBJECTIVES
1. To determine the percentage of water in aluminium sulphate hydrate.
2. To calculate the water of crystallization for aluminium sulphate hydrate.
INTRODUCTION
A hydrate salt is composed of anions (negative ions) and cations (positive
ions) which are surrounded by and weakly bonded water molecules. Each hydrate
salt has a fixed number of water molecules associated with it, called waters of
hydration or water of crystallization. When a salt holds waters of hydration, we call
it a hydrated salt or a hydrate (hydrate from hydor, the Greek word for water).
Aluminium sulphate hydrate, Al2(SO4)316H2O, has sixteen waters of
crystallization, or sixteen waters of hydration. Other hydrates have waters of
hydration ranging from one to twelve. Upon heating, a hydrate decomposes and
produces an anhydrous salt and water (in the form of steam).
Al2(SO4)316H2O (s ) Al2(SO4)3 (s) + 16 H2O (g)
Or generally, Heating
Hydrate salt anhydrous salt + water vapor
Since many hydrates contain water in a stoichiometric quantity, it is possible
to determine the molar ratio of water to salt. This is exactly what you will be doing
in today’s experiment. We will begin by heating an accurately weighed sample of
the hydrate to drive out the water. The compound formed is now anhydrous. By
determining the mass of the anhydrous sample and subtracting this mass from that of
the hydrate, we can determine the amount of water in the original substance.
MATERIAL AND APPARATUS
Aluminium sulphate hydrate, (Al2(SO4)316H2O), electronic balance, beaker and hot
plate.
PROCEDURE
A. Percentage of water in Aluminium sulphate hydrate, (Al2(SO4)316H2O)
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1. Heat the beaker at 90 C for five minutes to remove any surface moisture.
2. Weigh the cool and dry beaker. Record the weight on the data sheet.
3. Place 1.0g of Al2(SO4)316H2O in the beaker and reweigh the beaker and its
content. Record the mass on the data sheet.
o
4. Place the beaker back on the hot plate and heat the beaker at 150 C for 10
minutes. Allow the beaker to cool until it is cool to the touch.
5. Weigh the beaker and record the mass on the data sheet.
6. Heat again for about 5 minutes using the same temperature. Allow beaker to
cool until it is cool to touch.
7. Weigh the beaker again and record the mass on the data sheet. (If the weight
differ more than 0.05 mg from the first heating heat again for the third
time about 5 minutes.)
8. Switch off the hot plate and clean all the apparatus used before leave the
laboratory.
RESULT AND CALCULATION
Prepare a table(s) of the data you collected. Be sure to add a title to your table and
include units of measurement and significant figures. Make sure to do all the
calculation given!
Mass (g)
Empty Beaker 47.13
Beaker + 48.13
Al2(SO4)316H2O
Mass (g) 1st time heating 2nd time heating 3rd time
heating (if any)
Beaker + 48.011 47.943 47.904
Al2(SO4)316H2O
Calculate:
1. Mass of Al2(SO4)316H2O.
2. Molar Mass of Al2(SO4)316H2O.
3. Number of moles of Al2(SO4)316H2O.
4. Mass of H2O in the sample.
5. Mass of anhydrous salt.
6. Number of moles of H2O in the sample.
7. Number of moles of anhydrous salt.
8. Number of moles of water of hydration in a hydrate.
9. Percentage composition by mass of H2O in the hydrate salt.
10. Percentage of water loss.
DISCUSSION
In your discussion discuss about your result (either you get accurate result or not)
and also about the experiment that you have done. Include also the errors happen in
your experiment and precautions step need to be taken in the experiment. Include
also:
CONCLUSION: - State you conclusion of this experiment.
REFERENCE
