8. A hydrate is an ionic substance where water has been included in its matrix. The
hydrate is not a liquid, but a solid. A nickel(II) sulfate hydrate has the formula: NiSO4 •xH2O where "x" is a whole number representing the molecules of H2O present for every Ni^2+ and SO4^2- ion.
a. If 2.117 g of the hydrate is heated to drive the water away, and the resulting product wights 1.246 g, what is the percent mass of water in the hydrate?
b. How many moles of water are in 2.117 g of the hydrate?
c. How many moles of NiSO4 are in 2.117 g of the hydrate
d. How many moles of water are present per mole of NiSO4.
e. What is the formula for the hydrate?