Question

Why must the mass of the anhydrous salt be measured immediately?

a) To prevent contamination
b) To avoid temperature changes
c) To prevent reaction with moisture in the air
d) To maintain accuracy in the measurement

Answer 1

The mass of anhydrous salt must be measured immediately to avoid it reacting with moisture in the air, which would cause the mass to increase and lead to inaccurate measurements that are vital for precise stoichiometric calculations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mass of the anhydrous salt must be measured immediately to prevent reaction with moisture in the air. Anhydrous salts have a tendency to absorb moisture quickly from the environment. If the salt is exposed to air for too long before measuring, it may absorb water and thus increase in mass, leading to inaccurate results. In experiments and analyses where precise measurement of mass is crucial for calculating concentrations, the integrity of the sample must be preserved to maintain accurate stoichiometric calculations.