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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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.


Etymology

Origin of water of crystallization

First recorded in 1785–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

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

What weight of water of crystallization does 1 kg. of borax contain?

From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by William McPherson

When heated, its water of crystallization is driven off, and it becomes light and spongy with slightly corrosive properties, and is used as a caustic under the name of burnt alum.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 1 A to Amide by Various

The proof is complete, water of crystallization cannot be attached to the salt in solution, or if it is, no heat is evolved on union more than with solvent water.

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

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