What is the hydrate formula for something that is .0243 mol BaI_2BaI2 and .098 mol H_2OH2O?

1 Answer
Apr 21, 2016

"BaI"_2 * 4"H"_2"O"BaI24H2O

Explanation:

The idea here is that you need to use the number of moles of anhydrous barium iodide, "BaI"_2BaI2, and of water, "H"_2"O"H2O, to find the mole ratio that exists between the anhydrous salt and its water of hydration in the hydrate.

So, divide both values by the smallest one to find

"For BaI"_2: color(white)(a)(0.0243 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("moles"))))/(0.0243color(red)(cancel(color(black)("moles")))) = 1

"For H"_2"O: " (0.098 color(red)(cancel(color(black)("moles"))))/(0.0243color(red)(cancel(color(black)("moles")))) = 4.033 ~~ 4

This means that one formula unit of this hydrate will contain 1 mole of barium iodide and 4 moles of water. Its chemical formula will thus be

color(green)(|bar(ul(color(white)(a/a)color(black)("BaI"_2 * 4"H"_2"O")color(white)(a/a)|))) -> barium iodide tetrahydrate