### Gravimetric Methods: The Hydration of Epsom Salt This document details a set of experiments aimed at determining the hydration state of Epsom salt using gravimetric methods. Below is a transcription and explanation of the data obtained from two trials. #### Data Table | Measurement | Trial 1 (g) | Trial 2 (g) | |----------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------| | Mass of Beaker | 38.14 | 38.09 | | Mass of Beaker w/ Epsom Salt | 39.85 | 39.92 | | Mass of Beaker and Salt after Heating | 38.97 | 38.95 | | Mass Lost During Heating | 0.88 | 0.97 | | Mass of Residue Remaining in Beaker | 0.83 | 0.86 | | Initial Mass of Epsom Salt Used | 1.71 | 1.83 | #### Further Calculations | Calculation | Trial 1 | Trial 2 | |----------------------------------------------|-------------|-------------| | Mass of Epsom Salt Used (g) | | | | Mass of Salt After Heating (g) | | | | Moles of MgSO₄ | | | | Moles of H₂O Lost | | | | Ratio of Moles of H₂O:MgSO₄ | | | | Average number of moles of H₂O present in Epsom salt sample | | | #### Observations The observations section is reserved for recording any notable qualitative data collected during the experiments. --- This dataset indicates that during heating, a certain mass of water is lost, which can then be used to calculate the number of moles of water originally present per mole of magnesium sulfate in the Epsom salt. The data also includes the mass of the residue remaining in the beaker to help verify the results. **Note for Educators and Students:** Careful attention to measurement and temperature control is essential for accurate results in this type of gravimetric analysis. Calculations for moles and ratios should be completed as part of the analysis and interpretation phase of the experiment.