How does one find the formula name of a hydrated ionic compound when the ionic compound is unknown?

Question

I know how to find the ratio between the ionic compound and water, I just can'

t identify what ionic compound it is. The only thing I know about the compound is that its molar mass is 180.0 g/mol, it's a salt, and after it has been heated to a constant weight, the remaining anhydrous salt has a mass of 1.333g (2.000 gram sample of hydrated ionic compound to begin with).

Answer 1

Not sure you can actually identify the salt with the info provided. It looks like you will have a pentahydrate, i.e

X_aY_b • 5H₂O and the most common pentahydrate is CuSO₄ • 5H₂O. But unfortunately, this does NOT have a molar mass of 180 g / mol (hydrate nor anhydrous).