Decahydrate

/ˌdɛkəˈhaɪdreɪt/ noun

Definition

A chemical compound that contains ten molecules of water bonded to it.

Etymology

From deca- (ten) + hydrate (containing water, from Greek hydro- meaning water). In chemistry, the number prefix indicates exactly how many water molecules are attached to the main compound.

Kelly Says

Many common minerals and salts are decahydrates—for example, washing soda is sodium carbonate decahydrate—and the water molecules are so integral that removing them actually changes the chemical properties!

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