Question

How do you balance this equation? does the dot before the 6 mean something

MgSO4˙6H2O = MgSO4 + H2O

Answers

DrBob222
The dot before the 6, which if we could write it right on these boards, would be in the middle of the line, means there are 6 molecules of water that crystallize with each 1 molecule of MgSO4. The equation you have written is simply a dehydration in which a hydrate is heated to drive off the water, making the anhydrous salt.
MgSO4.6H2O + heat ==> MgSO4 + 6H2O

Most salts crystallize with some water. Most of the time we don't show it when we write the equation.

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