Answer to Question #303265 in Civil and Environmental Engineering for Chaddwick_itsme

Question

The water-cement ratio is important because it influences all of the desirable qualities of concrete. What is the minimum water-cement ratio for hydration only?

Answer 1

The chemical reaction between cement and water (hydration), which creates heat and is known as the heat of hydration, causes concrete to harden. To fully complete hydration reactions, around 0.42 pounds (or 0.42 kg or analogous unit) of water is required for every pound (or kilogram or any other unit of weight) of cement.