Given: Statements about the properties of a primary standard are given.
Find: Which statements are correct.
Step 1: Analyze statement A.
Hydrated salts can be used as primary standards provided they have a definite and stable composition. Therefore, statement A is correct.
Step 2: Analyze statement B.
A primary standard must be chemically stable and should not react with air, for example it should not absorb moisture or CO2. Therefore, statement B is correct.
Step 3: Analyze statement C.
Reactions involving primary standards should be stoichiometric, but they need not always be instantaneous. Therefore, statement C is incorrect.
Step 4: Analyze statement D.
A primary standard must be readily soluble in water so that its solution can be prepared accurately. Therefore, statement D is incorrect.
Step 5: Analyze statement E.
According to the provided solution, primary standards should preferably have low relative molar mass so that weighing errors are minimized. Therefore, statement E is correct.
Conclusion: The correct statements are A, B and E only.
Therefore, the correct option is C.