What is the correct name for SrSO4. 6H2O
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Name: Strontium sulfate hexahydrate
Strontium sulfate hexahydrate is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula SrSO₄·6H₂O. To properly name this compound, it is important to understand the rules of naming ionic hydrates.
The compound consists of two parts:
- SrSO₄ – This is the ionic part.
- ·6H₂O – This represents six molecules of water of hydration.
Naming the Ionic Part (SrSO₄)
The formula SrSO₄ is composed of strontium (Sr²⁺) and the sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻). Strontium is an alkaline earth metal and forms a +2 cation. Sulfate is a common polyatomic anion with a -2 charge. Since the charges are equal and opposite, they combine in a 1:1 ratio, forming strontium sulfate.
No Roman numeral is needed for strontium because it has a fixed oxidation state (+2) and is not a transition metal.
Naming the Hydrate Part (·6H₂O)
The water molecules attached to the ionic compound are called water of hydration. The number of water molecules is indicated using Greek prefixes:
- 1 = mono-
- 2 = di-
- 3 = tri-
- 4 = tetra-
- 5 = penta-
- 6 = hexa-
- 7 = hepta-
- 8 = octa-
Since there are six water molecules, the prefix hexa- is used. The term hydrate is added to indicate the presence of water.
Final Name
Putting it all together:
- Ionic part: strontium sulfate
- Hydrate part: hexahydrate
Thus, the complete name is strontium sulfate hexahydrate.
Hydrated salts like this one are often found in crystalline form. The water molecules are integrated into the crystal lattice and can be removed by heating, which is a common step in analyzing or using these compounds in laboratory or industrial settings.
