Experiment: Copper Sulphate Crystallization

Aim: To observe the process of crystallization by growing copper sulfate crystals.

Theory: Crystallization is a process in which a solid forms from a solution, usually

involving the gradual reduction of the solubility of a substance. In this experiment, we
will use copper sulfate (CuSO4) as the solute, and water as the solvent. When the copper
sulfate solution is saturated, meaning it cannot dissolve any more copper sulfate at the
given temperature, the excess copper sulfate will start to precipitate out and form crystals
as the solution cools down.

Principle: When a hot saturated solution of copper sulfate cools down, the solubility of
copper sulfate decreases, causing it to crystallize and form solid crystals.

Materials Required:

Copper sulfate (CuSO4) crystals

Distilled water

Beaker or glass container

Stirring rod or glass rod

Bunsen burner or hot plate (for heating)

Tripod stand and wire gauze (if using a Bunsen burner)

Safety goggles and lab coat (for safety)

Procedure:

Measure out a specific amount of copper sulfate crystals. The amount may vary
depending on the size of the container and the desired intensity of crystallization, but
around 10-20 grams should be sufficient.

In a clean beaker or glass container, add a fixed volume of distilled water. The amount of
water should be enough to dissolve the measured copper sulfate crystals completely, but
not so much that the resulting solution becomes dilute.

Carefully heat the beaker on a Bunsen burner or a hot plate while stirring continuously
with a glass rod. Keep heating and stirring until all the copper sulfate crystals dissolve
completely in the water. This will create a saturated copper sulfate solution.
Once all the crystals have dissolved, remove the heat source and allow the solution to
cool down slowly to room temperature.

As the solution cools down, you should start to see the formation of blue-colored copper
sulfate crystals. The crystals will grow larger over time.

You can speed up the crystallization process by placing the beaker in a refrigerator after it
has cooled to room temperature.

After a few hours or overnight, observe and record the size, shape, and color of the
copper sulfate crystals that have formed.

Diagram:

Conclusion:

The experiment demonstrates the process of crystallization by growing copper sulfate

crystals. As the saturated copper sulfate solution cools down, the solubility of copper
sulfate decreases, leading to the formation of solid crystals. The size, shape, and color of
the crystals can vary depending on factors such as temperature, cooling rate, and the
initial concentration of the copper sulfate solution. Crystallization is an essential process
in chemistry and has applications in various industries, including pharmaceuticals,
chemicals, and mineral processing.