Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate

Description

Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate is known as blue vitriol. It is an odorless blue crystal that readily dissolves in water. It is also soluble in methanol, glycerol and slightly soluble in ethanol. The highly toxic, non-combustible has a nauseating metallic taste and turns white when dehydrated. Structurally, in the pentahydrate molecule, each copper(II) ions is surrounded by four water molecules in the corners and the fifth water molecule is attached by hydrogen bonding. Copper (II) sulfate has many applications including preparation of Bordeaux mixture, a fungicide preparation. Electroplating, timber preservation and textile industry use copper (II) sulfate.

Chemical properties

Copper sulfate is a greenish-white crystalline solid; the pentahydrate is Blue powder or granules, or ultramarine crystalline solid.

The Uses of Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate

Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate salt may be used for the fabrication of copper nanoparticles by chemical reduction. The pentahydrate salt of copper may be used as a catalyst for the conversion of aromatic aldehydes to primary amides via aldoximes. Reduced graphene oxide-supported copper nanoparticles (rGO/Cu NPs) may be prepared by copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate and graphitic precursors. An aqueous electrolytic bath containing CuSO₄.5H₂O as one of the constituents was used for the preparation of Cu₂ZnSnS₄ (CZTS) thin film solar cell. Ferric chloride hexahydrate (FeC_l3.6H₂O) and copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO₄.5H₂O) may be used to fabricate Fe-Cu binary oxide sorbents for arsenic removal applications.

The Uses of Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate

Used as a source of Cu2+ ions

Definition

ChEBI: Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate is the pentahydrate of copper(2+) sulfate. A bright blue crystalline solid. It is a hydrate and a metal sulfate. It contains a copper(II) sulfate.

Definition

A green mineral consisting of copper(II) carbonate and hydroxide (CuCO₃.Cu(OH)₂). It is used as an ore and a pigment.

Definition

malachite: Apresumptive test for blood. Thereagent is the dye leucomalachitegreen dissolved in water along withsodium perborate (NaBO₃). A bluegreencolour indicates a positive result.

General Description

Blue crystalline granules or powder. Melting point 110°C (with decomposition). Non-combustible. Nauseating metallic taste. Odorless. White when dehydrated.

Air & Water Reactions

Slowly effloresces in air. Water soluble.

Reactivity Profile

Copper sulfate pentahydrate can be dehydrated by heating. Serves as a weak oxidizing agent. Causes hydroxylamine to ignite. Gains water readily. The hydrated salt is vigorously reduced by hydroxylamine [Mellor 8:292(1946-1947)]. Both forms are incompatible with finely powdered metals. Both are incompatible with magnesium, corrode steel and iron, may react with alkalis, phosphates, acetylene gas, hydrazine, or nitromethane, and may react with beta-naphthol, propylene glycol, sulphathiazole and triethanolamine if the pH exceeds 7 . Both act as acidic salts, corrode metals and irritate tissues.

Fire Hazard

Literature sources indicate that Copper sulfate pentahydrate is nonflammable.

Potential Exposure

Copper sulfate is used as intermediate and wood preservative; also used in production of copper compounds; to detect and to remove trace amounts of water from alcohols and organic compounds; as a fungicide and algicide; in veterinary medicine and others.

Shipping

UN3288 Toxic solids, inorganic, n.o.s., Hazard Class: 6.1; Labels: 6.1-Poisonous materials, Technical Name Required. UN3077 Environmentally hazardous substances, solid, n.o.s., Hazard class: 9; Labels: 9-Miscellaneous hazardous material, Technical Name Required.

Incompatibilities

Aqueous solution is an acid. May form explosive materials on contact with acetylene and nitromethane. Incompatible with strong bases; hydroxylamine, magnesium; zirconium, sodium hypobromite, hydrazine.

Waste Disposal

Copper-containing soluble wastes can be concentrated through the use of ion exchange, reverse osmosis, or evaporators to the point where copper can be electrolytically removed and sent to a reclaiming firm. If recovery is not feasible, the copper can be precipitated through the use of caustics and the sludge deposited in a chemical waste landfill Add soda ash to waste CuSO4 solution; let stand 24 hours. Decant and neutralize solution before flushing to sewer. Landfill sludge.