This question is about magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt).
When crystalline hydrated magnesium sulfate is heated, it loses water of crystallisation to form a white anhydrous powder. The word equation for this reaction is: hydrated magnesium sulfate (crystalline)⇌anhydrous magnesium sulfate (powder)+water\text{hydrated magnesium sulfate (crystalline)} \rightleftharpoons \text{anhydrous magnesium sulfate (powder)} + \text{water}hydrated magnesium sulfate (crystalline)⇌anhydrous magnesium sulfate (powder)+water
What does the symbol ⇌\rightleftharpoons⇌ represent?
A student heats 6.0 g6.0\text{ g}6.0 g of hydrated magnesium sulfate in a crucible. After heating to constant mass, 3.06 g3.06\text{ g}3.06 g of water vapour has been released into the atmosphere.
Calculate the mass of anhydrous magnesium sulfate remaining in the crucible.
Calculate the percentage by mass of water in the original 6.0 g6.0\text{ g}6.0 g sample of hydrated magnesium sulfate.