Final answer:
The main sources of error in a hydrate lab are incomplete removal of water from the sample, measurement imprecision, and the formation or loss of additional compounds during heating.
Step-by-step explanation:
Main source of error in hydrate lab
The main source of error in a hydrate lab is the possibility of incomplete removal of water from the hydrate sample. This can occur if the sample is not heated for a sufficient amount of time or at a high enough temperature. If water is left in the sample, it will contribute to the overall mass and lead to inaccurate results.
Another source of error can be due to measurement imprecision. If the mass of the sample or the water released during heating is not measured accurately, it can result in incorrect calculations of the percent water in the hydrate.
Lastly, the formation of additional compounds during heating or the loss of other volatile components can also introduce errors in the experiment. These additional compounds or losses can affect the mass measured and lead to inaccurate results.