The purpose of this experiment is to determine the empirical formula of a hydrate.
Hydrates are inorganic salts which contain a specific number of water molecules loosly attached.
Not all hydrates have simple formulas like these. For example, a hydrate of cadmium sulfate seems to have 2.66 molecules of water for each molecule of CdSO 4 . When determining theformula of a hydrate you must not assume that it is one with a simple formula. Hydrates can normally be decomposed into the anhydrous salt and water by gentle heating. From the data collected the number of molecules of hydrated water will be determined per molecule of anhydrous salt.