Resumen de Preparation and Analysis of Multiple Hydrates of Simple Salts
Richard Schaeffer, Benny C. Chan, Shireen R. Marshall, Brian Blasiole, Neetha Khan, Kendra L. Yoder, Melissa E. Trainer, Claude H. Yoder
We have developed a laboratory project in which the student prepares a series of hydrates of simple salts and then determines the extent of hydration of the product(s). We believe this provides a good introduction to the concepts of solubility, saturation, recrystallization, relative compound stability (e.g., a dihydrate vs tetrahydrate at elevated temperature), and simple gravimetric analysis. Moreover, the project lends itself to many variations. For example, a student could be given a "starting" hydrated salt and asked to prepare another hydrate within a specified temperature range. Or students could be given the formulas of several hydrates stable over different temperature ranges and be asked to "discover" a method of preparation. If it is deemed desirable to extend the project, the cation and/or anion could be determined quantitatively.
The preparation of ionic hydrates is accomplished by four methods: (i) slow evaporation of the solvent from a near saturated solution of the starting hydrate at a temperature within the stability range of the desired hydrate, (ii) crystallization within the temperature range of the target hydrate from a saturated solution prepared at higher temperatures, (iii) crystallization within the temperature stability range from mixed solvents, and (iv) heating a higher hydrate to the temperature range of the desired lower hydrate. Analysis for water of hydration content is performed gravimetrically by gently heating the sample in a Bunsen flame. Students were able to produce results generally within 1-5% of the theoretical.
