7758-98-7

Copper sulfate (anhydrous form) is green or gray-white powder, whereas pentahydrate, the most commonly encountered salt, is bright blue. The anhydrous form occurs as a rare mineral known as chalcocyanite. Hydrated copper sulfate occurs in nature as chalcanthite. Copper sulfate is made by the action of sulfuric acid with a variety of copper compounds. Copper sulfate is used in hair dyes, coloring glass, processing of leather, textiles, and in pyrotechnics as a green colorant. Copper sulfate pentahydrate is used as a fungicide and a mixture with lime is called Bordeux mixture and is used to control fungus on grapes, melons, and other berries, as a molluscicide for the destruction of slugs and snails, particularly the snail host of the liver fl uke. Copper sulfate is used in Fehling and Benedict’s solution to test reducing sugars

A white or off-white solid. Melting point 200°C with decomposition. Non-combustible.

Anhydrous CUPRIC SULFATE(7758-98-7) 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.

Soluble in water.

INGESTION: copper sulfate may induce severe gastroenteric distress (vomiting, gastroenteric pain, and local corrosion and hemorrhages), prostration, anuria, hematuria, anemia, increase in white blood cells, icterus, coma, respiratory difficulties, and circulatory failure.

Workers who accidentally ingest copper sulfate experience abdominal pain and cramps, burning sensation, corrosive effects, nausea, vomiting, loose bowel movement, and a metallic taste. Exposures to copper sulfate by ingestion or skin absorption cause severe irritating effects to the eyes and skin The aerosol is irritating to the respiratory tract, and effects on the blood, kidneys and liver result in hemolytic anemia, kidney impairment, liver impairment, and shock or collapse. At large doses, accidental intake of copper sulfate causes renal failure, comatose, and even death. Long-term exposure to copper sulfate may lead to liver damage, lung diseases, and decreased female fertility.

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.

If this chemical gets into the eyes, remove any contact lenses at once and irrigate immediately for at least 15 minutes, occasionally lifting upper and lower lids. Seek Medical attention immediately. If this chemical contacts the skin, remove contaminated clothing and wash immediately with soap and water. Seek medical attention immediately. If this chemical has been inhaled, remove from exposure, begin rescue breathing (using universal precautions, including resuscitation mask) if breathing has stopped and CPR if heart action has stopped. Transfer promptly to a medical facility. When this chemical has been swallowed, get medical attention. Give large quantities of water and induce vomiting. Do not make an unconscious person vomit.

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.

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.

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.

A compound prepared as the hydrate by the action of dilute sulfuric acid on copper( II) oxide or copper(II) carbonate. On crystallization, blue triclinic crystals of the pentahydrate (blue vitriol, CuSO₄.5H₂O) are formed. Industrially copper(II) sulfate is prepared by passing air through a hot mixture of dilute sulfuric acid and scrap copper. The solution formed is recycled until the concentration of the copper(II) sulfate is sufficient. Copper(II) sulfate is readily soluble in water. The monohydrate (CuSO₄.H₂O) is formed at 100°C and the anhydrous salt at 250°C. Anhydrous copper( II) sulfate is white; it is extremely hygroscopic and turns blue on absorption of water. It decomposes on heating to give copper(II) oxide and sulfur(VI) oxide.
Copper(II) sulfate is used as a wood preservative, a fungicide (in Bordeaux mixture), and in the dyeing and electroplating industries.

ChEBI: A metal sulfate compound having copper(2+) as the metal ion.

Toxic; highly irritant.

Fungicide, Algaecide, Bactericide, Herbicide, Molluscicide: Copper sulfate is a fungicide used to control bacterial and fungal diseases of fruit, vegetable, nut, and field crops. These diseases include mildew, leaf spots, blights, and apple scab. It is used as a protective fungicide (Bordeaux mixture) for leaf application and seed treatment. It is also used as an algaecide and herbicide, and to kill slugs and snails in irrigation and municipal water treatment systems. It has been used to control Dutch elm disease. It is available as a dust, wettable powder, or liquid concentrate. Used as a fungicide and algaecide, in veterinary medicine and others. Copper sulfate is also used todetect and to remove trace amounts of water from alcohols and organic compounds.

Copper sulfate (CuSO₄·5H₂O) is widely used as an activator for sphalerite, pyrite, pyrrhotite and other sulfides during processing of base metal ores. During flotation of some silicate minerals, copper sulfate is used as depressant, e.g. zirconium.
In manufacturing copper sulfate, sulfuric acid and scrap copper metal are used. The process is based on the oxidation of metal and dissolution with H2SO4 according to the following reaction:
4Cu + O₂ = 2Cu₂O Cu₂O + H₂SO₄ = CuSO₄ + H₂O 2Cu₂SO₄ + 2H₂SO₄ + O₂ = 4CuSO₄ + 2H₂O Usually, in mineral processing applications, copper sulfate is delivered in crystal form.

AGRITOX®; BASICOP®; BCS COPPER FUNGICIDE®; BSC FLOWABLE®[C]; COPSIN®; CP BASIC SULFATE®; CUPROFIX®; FUNGI-SPERSE II[C]; SULTRACOB®; TNCS® 53; TRIANGLE®

After adding 0.02g of KOH to a litre of nearly saturated aqueous solution of the sulfate, it is left for two weeks, then the precipitate is filtered on to a fibreglass filter with pore diameter of 5-15 microns. The filtrate is heated to 90o and allowed to evaporate until some CuSO4.5H2O crystallises out. The solution is then filtered hot and cooled rapidly to give crystals which are freed from mother liquor by filtering under suction [Geballe & Giauque J Am Chem Soc 74 3513 1952]. Alternatively crystallise the sulfate from water (0.6mL/g) between 100o and 0o. The pentahydrate is slowly efflorescent, losing 2H2O at 30o, two more H2O are lost at 110o and a white anhydrous powder (dessicant) is obtained on heating above 250o.