Hydration \Hy*dra"tion\, n. (Chem.) The act of becoming, or state of being, a hydrate. {Water of hydration} (Chem.), water chemically combined with some substance to form a hydrate; -- distinguished from {water of crystallization}.
water of hydration n : the water present in hydrated compounds [syn: {water of crystallization}, {water of crystallisation}]