Calculate the mass percent of water in a sample from water and total mass, wet and dry weighings, or hydrate crucible measurements in grams.

Optional settings

Related Calculators

Percent Water Formula

The following formula calculates water content on a wet-mass basis, assuming drying removes only water. Subtract the same container mass from both weighings when applicable.

% Water = ((Wet Mass - Dry Mass) / Wet Mass) × 100

Variables:

  • % Water is the percent water content in the sample
  • Wet Mass is the mass of the sample before drying (grams)
  • Dry Mass is the mass of the sample after drying (grams)

To calculate the percent water content, subtract the dry mass from the wet mass, divide by the wet mass, and then multiply by 100 to get the percentage.

What is Percent Water Content?

Percent water content is a measure of the amount of water present in a sample compared to the total mass of the sample. It is an important parameter in various fields such as soil science, food processing, and material science. Knowing the water content can be crucial for understanding the properties of a material, its shelf life, and its suitability for certain applications.

How to Calculate Percent Water Content?

The following steps outline how to calculate the percent water content.

  1. First, measure the wet mass of the sample (Wet Mass) in grams.
  2. Next, dry the sample and measure its mass after drying (Dry Mass) in grams.
  3. Use the formula from above to calculate the percent water content.
  4. Finally, select Wet / dry mass, enter the Wet Mass and Dry Mass, and select Calculate to get the Percent Water Content (%).
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

Wet Mass of the sample = 150 grams

Dry Mass of the sample after drying = 120 grams; water = (150 − 120) / 150 × 100 = 20%.

Percent Water Calculator screenshot