What does the suffix hydrate mean?

The suffix "hydrate" means "combined with water". It's often used in chemistry to describe compounds that have water molecules incorporated into their structure.

Here's a breakdown:

* Hydrate: A compound that contains water molecules within its crystal structure.

* Anhydrous: The opposite of a hydrate; a compound that does not contain water molecules.

For example:

* Copper sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) is a hydrate because it contains five water molecules per copper sulfate molecule.

* Anhydrous copper sulfate (CuSO₄) is the same compound but without the water molecules.

The water molecules in hydrates can be removed by heating, leaving the anhydrous compound.