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 oxalic acid and the oxalates should be specially prepared to insure purity, the main difficulty lying in the preservation of the water of crystallization.

From An Introductory Course of Quantitative Chemical Analysis With Explanatory Notes by Henry P. Talbot

Sodium thiosulphate is a comparatively stable cheap salt, containing 5 molecules of water of crystallization, Na2S2O3·5H2O but 7 parts are necessary to remove 1 part by weight of chlorine.

From Chlorination of Water by Joseph Race

Cobalt salts, which contain water of crystallization, are usually cherry red in color; when dehydrated they become blue.

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by William McPherson

Moisture is evolved from substances containing water of crystallization or decomposed hydrates.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 6, Slice 1 "Châtelet" to "Chicago" by Various