hydration number: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (C2/Specialist)Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “hydration number” mean?
The number of water molecules bound to a central ion in an aqueous solution.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The number of water molecules bound to a central ion in an aqueous solution.
In coordination chemistry, the specific count of water molecules acting as ligands directly coordinated to a metal ion in a hydrated complex.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences; spelling conventions follow standard UK/US norms for other words in a sentence.
Connotations
Purely technical with identical meaning in all scientific English contexts.
Frequency
Exclusively used in chemistry, materials science, and geochemistry texts; frequency is identical across dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “hydration number” in a Sentence
The hydration number of [ion] is [number].[Ion] has a hydration number of [number].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hydration number” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Researchers hydrated the sample to determine its hydration number.
- The ion hydrates with a specific hydration number.
American English
- The team hydrated the compound to measure its hydration number.
- Ions hydrate with a characteristic hydration number.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The hydration-number data were crucial.
- They studied the hydration-number dependence.
American English
- The hydration number data was crucial.
- They studied the hydration number dependence.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in chemistry, physical chemistry, and geochemistry research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Not used.
Technical
Core term in solution chemistry, ion transport studies, and crystallography.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hydration number”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hydration number”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hydration number”
- Using it to refer to the amount of water one should drink.
- Confusing it with 'hydration state', which is more qualitative.
- Pronouncing 'hydration' as /hɪˈdræʃən/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Hydration number' is a specific type of coordination number that refers only to water molecules as ligands in an aqueous environment.
Yes, it can vary with temperature, pressure, and the concentration of the solution for some ions, though for many it is a well-defined property in dilute solutions.
It is determined experimentally using techniques like X-ray diffraction, neutron scattering, NMR spectroscopy, and computational simulations.
Virtually never. It is a highly specialized term confined to scientific disciplines like chemistry, geochemistry, and biophysics.
The number of water molecules bound to a central ion in an aqueous solution.
Hydration number is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Hydration number: in British English it is pronounced /haɪˈdreɪʃən ˈnʌmbər/, and in American English it is pronounced /haɪˈdreɪʃən ˈnʌmbər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a metal ion (like a magnet) surrounded by a specific 'hydration number' of water molecules (like little orbiting planets).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE ION IS A HOST; WATER MOLECULES ARE GUESTS (The hydration number is the exact count of guests seated at the host's table).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'hydration number' specifically refer to?