water of crystallization

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. water of hydration, formerly thought necessary to crystallization: now usually regarded as affecting crystallization only as it forms new molecular combinations.

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water of crystallization British  

noun

1. water present in the crystals of certain compounds. It is chemically combined in stoichiometric amounts, usually by coordinate or hydrogen bonds, but can often be easily expelled

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water of crystallization Scientific  

1. Water in a crystal structure that is chemically combined with the other elements in the crystal. The water of crystallization is necessary for the maintenance of crystalline properties, but it can be removed by heat.

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Etymology

Origin of water of crystallization

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

water of crystallization

Using four 20-in. mirrors, he focuses sunlight on powdered pitchstone in a glass laboratory tube until its water of crystallization steams off.

From Time Magazine Archive

The hydrochlorate gives up a part of its water of crystallization at the ordinary temperature under a desiccator over sulphuric acid, and the whole of it upon heating.—Chemist and Druggist.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 315, January 14, 1882 by Various

The author has formed several salts of the base, all of a crystalline nature, and containing water of crystallization.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 315, January 14, 1882 by Various

But crystals are also nourished and grow in the water of crystallization.

From The Mechanism of Life by Leduc, Stéphane

An examination of substances containing water of crystallization has shown that in every case the water is present in such proportion by weight as can readily be represented by a formula.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William