A student is interested in determining the number of water molecules in a hydrate called manganese(II) chloride. (MnCl2). She know that the number of water molecules in a hydrate is usually a small whole number from 1 to 5. She also knows that the chemical formula of a hydrate can be determined by analyzing the percent water in the substance. The student prepared a reference table of possible % water values for comparison to her experimental results. Hydrate MnCl2⋅H2O MnCl2⋅2H2O MnCl2⋅3H2O MnCl2⋅4H2O MnCl2⋅5H2O
MM of anhydrous salt 125.84 125.84 125.84 125.84 125.84
MM of nH2O 18.02 36.04 54.06 72.08 90.10
MM of hydrate 143.86 262.88 179.90 197.92 215.94
Percent water 12.52 22.26 30.05 36.42 41.72

With this in mind, she weighs out six 1-g samples of her unknown salt, puts each sample in a different test tube, and then uses a Bunsen burner to evaporate the water out of each sample. Next, she measures the mass of the solid left in each test tube.

Trial Mass of Sample Mass of Solid Left in the tube Mass of Evaporated water Percent Water in the Hydrate
1 1.00 g 0.69 0.31 31%
2 1.00 g 0.63 0.37 37%
3 1.00 g 0.67 0.33 33%
4 1.00 g 0.65 0.35 35%
5 1.00 g 0.67 0.33 33%
6 1.00 g 0.64 0.36 36%

The unknown hydrate was manganese(II) chloride is a trihydrate, MnCl2⋅3H2O. The mass of the water evaporated out of the hydrate ranged from 0.31 g to 0.37 g. which means the percent water in sample is about 34%. Since the amount of water in MnCl2⋅3H2O should be 30% of the total mass, the manganese(II) chloride must be a trihydrate.

a. Review the data and argument provided. The student's claim is INCORRECT.
b. Examine the data tables and think about what you know about reactions, mole ratios, chemical composition and empirical formulas.
c. Briefly discuss the student's argument and provide empirical evidence and/or reasons to demonstrate why her claim is inaccurate. Be sure to include what you think the student's experimental error might have been.
d. Clearly state the claim you would make based on the evidence and a sufficient rationale to support it. Be sure to present your ideas in a clear and logical order, using a variety of words and well constructed sentences.