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

Thomsen himself expressly states that he regards the dissolved state as one in which the conditions are comparable for all substances; this would be impossible if water of crystallization were present.

From Scientific American Supplement, No. 561, October 2, 1886 by Various

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

From The Mechanism of Life by Leduc, Stéphane

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

The salts formed from these bases usually contain water of crystallization, which cannot be driven off without decomposing them more or less.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William