WHAT IS THE MEANING OF THE NUMERICAL REPRESENTED BY X IN THE GENERAL FORMULA FOR HYDRATE; SALT H2O?
Na2CO3.xH2O means sodium carbonate with x mols H2O accompanying it. x is a whole number.
In the general formula for a hydrate, such as "salt H2O," the numerical value represented by the variable X indicates the number of water molecules that are present in the crystal structure of the salt compound. This value, X, represents the ratio of water molecules to one molecule of the salt.
To determine the value of X, you need to analyze the hydrate compound experimentally or through other methods. Here's a step-by-step process to find the value of X:
1. Start with a known mass of the hydrate compound (salt H2O).
2. Heat the sample to remove the water molecules.
3. Continuously heat the sample until the mass remains constant. At this point, all the water molecules have been removed.
4. Measure the mass of the anhydrous (water-free) salt remaining after heating.
5. Calculate the mass of water that was present in the original sample by subtracting the mass of the anhydrous salt from the initial mass of the hydrate compound.
6. To determine the value of X, find the ratio of the mass of water to the mass of the anhydrous salt.
For example, if the mass of water is 9 grams, and the mass of the anhydrous salt is 3 grams, then the ratio is 9/3 = 3.
7. X is the value of the ratio determined in the previous step, representing the number of water molecules in relation to one molecule of the salt.
By following these steps, you can experimentally determine the numerical value represented by X in the general formula for a hydrate compound such as "salt H2O."