Question

Dumbledore decides to gives a surprise demonstration. He starts with a hydrate of Na2CO3 which has a mass of 4.31 g before heating. After he heats it he finds the mass of the anhydrous compound is found to be 3.22 g. He asks everyone in class to determine the integer x in the hydrate: Na2CO3·xH2O; you should do this also. Round your answer to the nearest integ

Answer 1

Na₂CO₃.2H₂O

Step-by-step explanation:

For the hydrated compound, let us denote is by Na₂CO₃.xH₂O

The unknown is the value of x which is the amount of water of crystallisation.

Given values:

Starting mass of hydrate i.e Na₂CO₃.xH₂O = 4.31g

Mass after heating (Na₂CO₃) = 3.22g

Mass of the water of crystallisation = (4.31-3.22)g = 1.09g

To determine the integer x, we find the number of moles of the anhydrous Na₂CO₃ and that of the water of crystallisation:

Number of moles =
`(mass )/(molar mass )`

Molar mass of Na₂CO₃ =[(23x2) + 12 + (16x3)] = 106gmol⁻¹

Molar mass of H₂O = [(1x2) + (16)] = 18gmol⁻¹

Number of moles of Na₂CO₃ =
`(3.22)/(106)` = 0.03mole

Number of moles of H₂O =
`(1.09)/(18)` = 0.06mole

From the obtained number of moles:

Na₂CO₃ H₂O

0.03 0.06

Simplest

Ratio 0.03/0.03 0.03/0.06

1 2

Therefore, x = 2