C-3 
ADVANCE STUDY ASSIGNMENT: 
 
 
1. 
Read the sections at the beginning of this laboratory manual that relate to the use of a Bunsen burner 
(p.23 and 24). 
 
 
2. 
What determines if a hydrate effloresces? 
 
 
Answer:  A hydrate effloresces if the vapor pressure of water exerted by its solid is greater than the 
(partial) pressure of water in the surrounding atmosphere. 
 
 
3. 
A sample of an unknown hydrate, having a mass of 5.768 g was heated until all the water was driven 
off.  The mass of the anhydrous residue was 3.248 g.  Qualitative tests identified the ions as Zn
2+
 and 
SO
4
2-
, so the anhydrous compound is ZnSO
4
.  Calculate the mass percent of water and the empirical 
formula of the hydrate.  
Answer:  43.69% H2O;  ZnSO
4
7 H2O 
 
 
4. 
Which of the chemicals in the reagent list given on page C-4 are corrosive?   
 
 
Answer:  HCl, H2SO
4
, NaOH, and HNO3 
 
 
5. 
(a) 
Write a chemical equation for the complete decomposition of sugar: 
 
 
 
 
 
Answer: 
 
 
 
(b) 
If decomposition is incomplete, a brown liquid caramel might form first.  Then, as heating 
continues to complete decomposition, a brown/black solid is formed.  What would be the major 
component of this solid?     
Answer:   carbon 
 
 
6. 
If you carried out the flame test on your hydrate and observed a violet flame, what cation might be 
present?  What cation might be present if a green flame had been observed? 
 
 
Answer :  violet might be potassium and green might be copper  
 
 
REAGENTS AND EQUIPMENT 
 
hydrate samples (unknowns) 
nichrome wire 
Bunsen burner 
6.0 M HCl 
6.0 M HNO3 
balances 
1.0 M NaOH 
1.0 M H2SO
4 
test tubes 
1.0 M BaCl2 
0.10 M AgNO3 
CuSO
4
5 H2O (crystals) 
NaCl (solid) 
NaBr (solid) 
sugar (sucrose: C
12
H
22
O
11
) 
CdCl23 H2O 
anhydrous CaCl2