trihydrated

Trihydrated refers to a chemical compound that has incorporated three molecules of water into its crystalline structure. This water, known as water of hydration, is chemically bound to the ions or molecules of the compound. When a substance is in its trihydrated form, it means that for every formula unit of the anhydrous (water-free) compound, there are exactly three water molecules associated with it. This is often represented in chemical formulas by a dot followed by the number of water molecules, for example, CuSO4·3H2O.

The presence of water of hydration can significantly alter the physical properties of a compound, such as its color, solubility, melting point, and crystal shape. For instance, some substances are colored only in their hydrated forms. The trihydrated form is a specific stoichiometry, distinguishing it from other hydrates of the same compound, such as monohydrates (one water molecule) or pentahydrates (five water molecules). The number of water molecules in a hydrate is determined by the compound's ability to form stable coordination complexes with water. Heating a trihydrated compound can lead to the loss of its water of hydration, converting it to a lower hydrate or the anhydrous form. This process is known as dehydration.