A hydrate of sodium acetate is heated to give 39.7% water.What is the chemical formula for the hydrate?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The chemical formula for sodium acetate is NaC₂H₃O₂. If there is only one water molecule attached to each formula unit, the chemical formula for the hydrate would be NaC₂H₃O₂ • H₂O. However, the problem states that the hydrate is heated to give 39.7% water, indicating that there are more than one water molecules per formula unit. The only option that has three water molecules per formula unit is D, NaC₂H₃O₂ • 3H₂O.

A Hydrate of Sodium Acetate Is Heated to Give 39