What is the Difference Between CoCl2 6H2O and Anhydrous Cobalt Chloride?

The main difference between CoCl2 6H2O and anhydrous cobalt chloride lies in the presence of water molecules.

• CoCl2 6H2O: This is cobalt chloride hexahydrate, which means it has cobalt chloride salt molecules attracted to six water molecules. The compound has a rose-red color and a molar mass of 237.93 g/mol. The presence of water molecules makes it a crystalline compound with a density of about 1.924 g/cm³.
• Anhydrous Cobalt Chloride: This is the water-free form of cobalt chloride salt. It has a sky blue color and acts as a desiccant, meaning it can absorb water. The anhydrous form is obtained by heating the hydrated form, CoCl2 6H2O.

In summary, CoCl2 6H2O is the hydrated form of cobalt chloride with six water molecules attached to the cobalt chloride salt, while anhydrous cobalt chloride is the water-free form of the salt.

Comparative Table: CoCl2 6H2O vs Anhydrous Cobalt Chloride

The main difference between CoCl2 6H2O and anhydrous cobalt chloride lies in the presence of water of crystallization. Here is a comparison table highlighting the differences:

CoCl2 6H2O is cobalt chloride hexahydrate, which has cobalt chloride salt molecules attracted to six water molecules. It has a rose-red color and a molar mass of 237.93 g/mol. Anhydrous cobalt chloride, on the other hand, is the water-free form of cobalt chloride salt. It has a sky blue color and can act as a desiccant because it can absorb water. The hydrated form of cobalt chloride (CoCl2 6H2O) converts into the anhydrous form upon heating.