Calculating the Formulas of Hydrated Salts

Professor Dave explains how to calculate the formula of a hydrated salt. He introduces the concept of salts and hydrates, and describes an experiment to determine the number of water molecules in a hydrate. By heating the hydrate, the water is vaporized, allowing the mass of the anhydrous salt to be measured. The mass of water is calculated by difference, and both masses are converted to moles. The ratio of moles of salt to water is determined, allowing the complete formula of the hydrated salt to be written. This process demonstrates how simple calculations can reveal molecular structures.

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