What is the Difference Between Hydrated Salt and Anhydrous Salt?

The main difference between hydrated salt and anhydrous salt lies in the presence or absence of water molecules in their structure.

• Hydrated Salt: Hydrated salts are compounds that have water molecules attached to the salt molecules. These compounds contain water of crystallization, and when heated, they emit water molecules as water vapor. An example of a hydrated salt is copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4.5H2O).
• Anhydrous Salt: Anhydrous salts are compounds that have no water molecules attached to the salt molecules. These compounds have no water molecules in the salt crystals, and they can absorb moisture from the air. An example of an anhydrous salt is heated copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4), which produces an anhydrous copper sulfate after losing its water molecules.

In summary, hydrated salts contain water molecules chemically bonded to the salt molecules, whereas anhydrous salts do not contain any water molecules.

Comparative Table: Hydrated Salt vs Anhydrous Salt

Here is a table comparing hydrated salt and anhydrous salt:

Hydrated salts are salt compounds that contain water molecules within their crystalline structure, while anhydrous salts do not contain any water molecules. When hydrated salts are heated, they emit water molecules as water vapor, whereas anhydrous salts do not experience this change. Hydrated salts are usually softer and more soluble than anhydrous salts due to the presence of water molecules.