How can removing water change the color of a substance? Lab partners remove the water of crystallization from hydrated copper (II) sulfate, record their observations, then rehydrate the solid. The resource is printable and contains ideas for expanding upon the lesson.

Concepts

chemical reactions, colors, water, exothermic reactions, making observations

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Additional Tags

science

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Instructional Ideas

• Extend the lesson by asking learners to calculate the change in enthalpy as the solid is rehydrated
• Perform the lab as a demonstration, highlighting copper (II) sulfate's ability to serve as a test for water in a solution

Classroom Considerations

• Pair pupils for the experiment
• Make sure the class is monitoring the amount of water produced and can carefully move the delivery tube to prevent the water being pulled back in to the reaction vessel

Pros

• The equipment setup diagram is very helpful for students with less experience in the lab
• Activity is a great way to illustrate the differences between hydrated and anhydrous compounds
  

Cons

• None

Common Core

RST.6-8.3 RST.9-10.3