Skip to main content
Ch.3 - Molecules and Compounds
Chapter 3, Problem 122

A hydrate of copper(II) chloride has the following formula: CuCl2 • x H2O. The water in a 3.41-g sample of the hydrate is driven off by heating. The remaining sample has a mass of 2.69 g. Find the number of waters of hydration (x) in the hydrate.

Verified Solution

Video duration:
0m:0s
This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.
Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Hydrates

Hydrates are compounds that contain water molecules within their crystalline structure. The water molecules are typically incorporated in a fixed ratio, represented as 'x' in the formula CuCl2 # x H2O. Understanding hydrates is essential for determining the amount of water lost upon heating and calculating the number of water molecules associated with the compound.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:04
Ionic Hydrates Naming

Mass Loss Calculation

To find the number of waters of hydration, one must calculate the mass of water lost during heating. This is done by subtracting the mass of the anhydrous compound (after heating) from the initial mass of the hydrate. This mass loss directly correlates to the number of water molecules, allowing for the determination of 'x' in the hydrate's formula.
Recommended video:
Guided course
03:12
Molar Mass Calculation Example

Molar Mass and Stoichiometry

Molar mass is the mass of one mole of a substance, which is crucial for converting between grams and moles. In this context, stoichiometry helps relate the mass of the anhydrous copper(II) chloride and the mass of water lost to the number of moles of each component. This relationship is key to solving for 'x' in the hydrate formula by establishing a ratio based on their respective molar masses.
Recommended video:
Guided course
02:11
Molar Mass Concept
Related Practice
Textbook Question

Fructose is a common sugar found in fruit. Elemental analysis of fructose gives the following mass percent composition: C 40.00%, H 6.72%, O 53.28%. The molar mass of fructose is 180.16 g/mol. Find the molecular formula of fructose.

2018
views
Textbook Question

Combustion analysis of a 13.42-g sample of equilin (which contains only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) produces 39.61 g CO2 and 9.01 g H2O. The molar mass of equilin is 268.34 g/mol. Find its molecular formula.

3137
views
Textbook Question

Estrone, which contains only carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, is a female sexual hormone in the urine of pregnant women. Combustion analysis of a 1.893-g sample of estrone produces 5.545 g of CO2 and 1.388 g H2O. The molar mass of estrone is 270.36 g/mol. Find its molecular formula.

1481
views
1
rank
Textbook Question

A compound of molar mass 177 g/mol contains only carbon, hydrogen, bromine, and oxygen. Analysis reveals that the compound contains eight times as much carbon as hydrogen by mass. Find the molecular formula.

1765
views
Textbook Question

Researchers obtained the following data from experiments to find the molecular formula of benzocaine, a local anesthetic, which contains only carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Complete combustion of a 3.54-g sample of benzocaine with excess O2 forms 8.49 g of CO2 and 2.14 g H2O. Another 2.35-g sample contains 0.199 g of N. The molar mass of benzocaine is 165 g/mol. Find the molar formula of benzocaine.

1228
views
1
rank
Textbook Question

Find the total number of atoms in a sample of cocaine hydrochloride, C17H22ClNO4, of mass 23.5 mg.

1226
views
1
rank