What does the chemical formula, MgSO4 * 7H2O, become when the hydrated is heated?
I got so far is
MSO4 * 7H2O + Heat ---> MgSO4 + H + O
It depends upon exactly hot it gets; i.e., how much it is heated but these problems usually mean you are driving off the water and not decomposing the water.
MgSO4.7H2O + heat ==> MgSO4 + 7H2O
To determine what the chemical formula becomes when the hydrated compound is heated, we need to consider two things: the decomposition of the compound and the removal of water.
The chemical formula MgSO4 * 7H2O represents magnesium sulfate heptahydrate, which means it includes seven water molecules bound to each magnesium sulfate molecule. When this compound is heated, the water molecules are removed.
The decomposition of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate occurs in two steps:
1. Dehydration: The first step involves the removal of the water molecules. Each water molecule is composed of two hydrogen atoms (H) and one oxygen atom (O). Therefore, when seven water molecules are removed, this results in the loss of 14 hydrogen atoms and 7 oxygen atoms.
2. Formation of anhydrous magnesium sulfate: The remaining portion of the compound after dehydration is anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4). This compound has no water molecules attached to it.
Combining these steps, the chemical equation for the dehydration of magnesium sulfate heptahydrate can be represented as:
MgSO4 * 7H2O(s) + Heat → MgSO4(s) + 7H2O(g)
So, when magnesium sulfate heptahydrate is heated, it decomposes into anhydrous magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) and water vapor (H2O).