Answer to Question #98985 in General Chemistry for Joanna

Question

So I am calculating the coefficient for the formula of a hydrate. CuSo4.xH2O so I am solving for x. I've got the moles for the CuSO4 and H2O and divided them to get x but I ended up with a decimal of 3.26... What do I do from here since it is not very close to a whole number

Answer 1

Here are two possibilities: your calculations are wrong or the hydrate is not the stoichiometric one. Maybe, it was prepared with a partial dehydration of CuSO₄*5H₂O?

Thus, if you sure about your calculations, then you have nothing to change. You answer is CuSO₄*3.26H₂O.