Blue vitriol

Blue Vitriol ( CuSO₄.5H₂O )

Pentahydrate copper sulfate is commonly known as

blue vitriol.
PREPARATION
1. It is prepared by dissolving cupric oxide , hydroxide
and carbonate in dilute H₂SO₄ and evaporating the
resulting solution upto crystallization point.
2. On commercial scale, it is prepared by the action of
dilute H₂SO₄ on Cu-turnings in the presence of air.

The solution upon crystallization gives the crystals of blue

vitriol .
 Properties of blue vitriol

Physical properties
1. It is blue crystalline solid . The anhydrous copper
sulfate is white powder .
2. It is highly soluble in water but insoluble in alcohol.
3. Action of heat ;-
On heating it loses water of crystallization.

CuSO4 5H2O 100 → CuSO4H2O

Blue
CuSO4H2O 230 → CuSO4
Bluish white
white
On further heating , it decomposes into cupric oxide
and sulfur trioxide .
4. Action of alkali :-
It reacts with alkali such as NaOH or KOH
to give bluish white ppt. of cupric hydroxide .
5. Action with Ammonia :-
When excess of ammonia is passed
through copper sulfate solution , deep blue
coloration of Tetra amine copper (ii) sulfate is
formed .
6. Action with KI :-
When it is treated with KI , it liberates
Iodine .
7. Displacement reaction :-
Copper is displaced by more
electropositive metals like Fe, Zn etc.
 Uses of copper sulfate:-
1. In medicine as antiseptics .
2. In agriculture as fungicide and germicide .
3. In electroplating .
4. In the preparation of other important compounds
of copper .
 Cupric oxide CuO

 Commonly known as Black oxide of copper .

Preparation :-
1. It is prepared by heating cupric hydroxide or
cupric nitrate .
2. It can be prepared commercially by heating the
mineral malachite .
 Properties of CuO

1. It is hygroscopic ,dark black powder . So it is called

black oxide of copper .
2. It is not affected by low heating but when heated
above 1000⁰C, it is partially decomposed to give
cuprous oxide and oxygen .
4CuO 2Cu₂O + O₂
3. It acts as a mild oxidizing agent . It oxidizes hydrogen to
water and carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide .
CuO + H₂ Cu + H₂O
CuO + CO Cu + CO₂
Uses of CuO :-
1. In lab to estimate carbon and hydrogen present in
organic compounds .
2. To improve light blue or green color in glass.
3. As an oxidizing agent .
 Cuprous Oxide Cu₂O

 Commonly known as Red Oxide of copper .

Preparation
1. It is prepared by heating black oxide of copper with
copper fillings or CuO only .
2. It can be prepared by reduction of alkaline solution
of copper sulfate with glucose , formaldehyde
,hydrazine etc .
 Properties of Cuprous oxide

1. It is reddish brown powder . So it is also called Red

oxide of copper .
2. When heated in air it is partially oxidized to cupric
oxide .
3. It is a basic oxide and dissolves in Conc. HCl to
form cuprous chloride .
Cu₂O + 2HCl Cu₂Cl₂ + H₂O
But H₂SO₄ and HNO₃ acids give the corresponding cupric
salts .
Cu₂O + H₂SO₄ CuSO₄ + H₂O + Cu
Cu₂O + 2HNO₃ Cu(NO₃)₂ +H₂O + Cu
Uses of Cu₂O :-
1. In glass industry to make red glass .
2. Used as protective paint to avoid rusting .
3. Used to prepare Cuprous chloride .
 Cu2O preparation

 𝐼𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑏𝑡𝑎𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑑 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑐𝑜𝑝𝑝𝑒r sulphate by reducing an

alikaline solution of it (Fehling’s solution) with
glucose.
 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 + 2𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻 → 𝑁𝑎2 𝑆𝑂4 + 𝐶𝑢(𝑂𝐻)2
Δ
 2𝐶𝑢 𝑂𝐻)2 → 𝐶𝑢2𝑂 + 2𝐻2 + 𝑂

 𝐶6𝐻12𝑂6 𝐺𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒 + 𝑂 → 𝐶6𝐻12𝑂7 𝐺𝑙𝑢𝑐𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑎𝑐𝑖𝑑