A student performing the water of hydration experiment cant seem to get his hydrate to constant weight. Several times he heats the compound, allows it t cool, and weighs it. But each time he does, he obtains a different mass. can you suggest some possible causes for this dilemma?

Answer 1

The sample is picking up various amounts of water from the atmosphere, especially if the humidity is high. Another cause could be that the student is not heating the sample long enough to expel all of the water.