Calculate the formula for the following hydrate composed of [tex]$76.9 \% CaSO_3$[/tex] and [tex]$23.1 \% H_2O$[/tex].

A. [tex]$CaSO_3 \cdot H_2O$[/tex]
B. [tex]$CaSO_3 \cdot 2H_2O$[/tex]
C. [tex]$CaSO_3 \cdot 3H_2O$[/tex]
D. [tex]$CaSO_3 \cdot 4H_2O$[/tex]



Answer :

To determine the formula for the hydrate composed of 76.9% CaSO₃ and 23.1% H₂O, we should follow these steps:

1. Calculate the molar masses of CaSO₃ and H₂O:
- Calcium sulfite (CaSO₃):
[tex]\[ \text{Molar mass of CaSO}_3 = \text{atomic mass of Ca} + \text{atomic mass of S} + 3 \times \text{atomic mass of O} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Molar mass of CaSO}_3 = 40.08 \, \text{g/mol} + 32.07 \, \text{g/mol} + 3 \times 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Molar mass of CaSO}_3 = 120.15 \, \text{g/mol} \][/tex]

- Water (H₂O):
[tex]\[ \text{Molar mass of H}_2\text{O} = 2 \times 1.01 \, \text{g/mol} + 16.00 \, \text{g/mol} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Molar mass of H}_2\text{O} = 18.02 \, \text{g/mol} \][/tex]

2. Calculate the moles of CaSO₃ and H₂O from the given percentages:
- Moles of CaSO₃:
[tex]\[ \text{Moles of CaSO}_3 = \frac{76.9 \, \text{g}}{120.15 \, \text{g/mol}} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Moles of CaSO}_3 = 0.640 \, \text{moles} \][/tex]

- Moles of H₂O:
[tex]\[ \text{Moles of H}_2\text{O} = \frac{23.1 \, \text{g}}{18.02 \, \text{g/mol}} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Moles of H}_2\text{O} = 1.282 \, \text{moles} \][/tex]

3. Calculate the mole ratio of H₂O to CaSO₃:
[tex]\[ \text{Ratio} = \frac{\text{Moles of H}_2\text{O}}{\text{Moles of CaSO}_3} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Ratio} = \frac{1.282 \, \text{moles}}{0.640 \, \text{moles}} \][/tex]
[tex]\[ \text{Ratio} = 2.003 \][/tex]

4. Determine the number of water molecules (H₂O) per formula unit of CaSO₃:
The mole ratio calculated is approximately 2, indicating that for every one mole of CaSO₃, there are about 2 moles of H₂O. Therefore, this most closely matches the compound [tex]\( \text{CaSO}_3 \cdot 2 \text{H}_2\text{O} \)[/tex].

Thus, the formula for the hydrate is:
[tex]\[ \boxed{\text{CaSO}_3 \cdot 2 \text{H}_2\text{O}} \][/tex]

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