Copper sulfate is a substance belonging to the inorganic class. It is a copper salt of sulfuric acid. Another name is copper sulfate. Copper sulfate is especially popular among owners of both large fields and very small vegetable gardens - almost all summer residents and gardeners use the substance. Copper sulfate is traditionally used to treat trees in the spring. It is also used to protect shrubs in the autumn and prevent the occurrence of diseases.
Visually, copper sulfate is relatively small crystals with a bluish or bluish tint. The substance is non-volatile and has no odor. The substance is characterized by a bitter taste with a metallic tint.
In nature, copper sulfate can be found in some minerals. In large enterprises it is produced by exposing the main component to sulfur.
This substance dissolves easily in ordinary water; vitriol crystals melt especially easily in heated liquid. When the substance gets into water, it generates heat, and when left in the open air for a long time, the compound loses all its properties, and its color changes from blue to white or gray.
What is copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is an inorganic compound represented by blue crystals, which has achieved the greatest popularity in the agricultural sector: it is used to protect fruit trees and various shrubs, to treat the soil in order to prevent the development of various diseases and to protect against fungus. It is worth noting that this compound is not addictive to pests and bacteria, so its effectiveness does not decrease over time.
Copper sulfate in the world classification is listed under the index E519. This compound is obtained exclusively synthetically. The additive, in addition to processing plants, is also used as a preservative. In small doses it is safe for the human body. However, since 2010, the use of copper sulfate as a food additive in the Russian Federation has been prohibited: experts argued that despite the general opinion about the safety of copper sulfate, it can cause mutations in the body and have a toxic effect on it.
Visually, copper sulfate is a homogeneous powder with a slight bluish tint. In an anhydrous environment, the substance appears as a white powder.
Copper sulfate crystals
Bordeaux liquid
If copper sulfate is dissolved in water with lime, you get Bordeaux mixture. They sell a 3% mixture of chemicals in ready-made bags, where copper sulfate is 300 g and lime is 400 g. To dilute a 1% concentration, you will need 100 g of each component. Copper in the mixture plays the role of poison, and lime acts as a neutralizer. The solution is used immediately after dilution; if it is stored for a day, then add it to a 10-liter bucket with a mixture of sugar - 5 g.
Treat with Bordeaux mixture (3%) once before buds appear, 3-4 times during the growing season (1%). The validity period of the liquid is 10-14 days, after which subsequent treatment begins.
The mixture is applied to plants in the following quantities:
- for fruit and berry trees, deciduous and coniferous, large shrubs - 15-20 l/100 m²;
- for medium shrubs and grapes - 10-15 l/100 m²;
- for small bushes: potatoes, strawberries – 5-10 l/100 m²;
- for large trees with external signs of fungi - 10-15 liters of mixture (1%) per tree.
Using Bordeaux mixture, you can treat and prevent diseases of various plants and improve the health of your garden plot and vegetable beds.
Formula of copper sulfate and its properties
Copper sulfate formula:
CuSO4
Basic information about copper sulfate:
- Molar mass – 160 g/mol.
- Density – 3.64 g/cm3.
- Crystal hardness is 2.5.
- Color – blue or bluish, in certain conditions it can be white or grayish.
- External form: large crystals or granules.
- There is no smell.
- Solubility - copper sulfate crystals melt easily in water, methanol and sulfuric acid.
- The taste is bitter, with a metallic aftertaste.
- The temperature at which the substance begins to decompose is 650 degrees.
When copper sulfate is heated to 110 degrees, 4 molecules of water are split off, and when the temperature rises to 150 degrees, it completely loses all the liquid contained in its composition.
During the heating process, copper sulfate splits off two molecules of water and is converted into trihydrate, then into monohydrate, and when heated to 258 degrees - into anhydrous salt. Decomposition of the substance occurs when the temperature rises to 650 degrees. Upon completion of the decomposition reaction, copper and sulfur oxides are formed and oxygen is released.
Copper sulfate dissolves well in water, and its ability to dissolve increases when the liquid is heated. When hydrolyzed, the substance produces an acidic environment.
When interacting with alkali metals, vitriol forms complex salts.
When the substance is added to the flame, it changes its color from red-orange to green.
In addition, copper sulfate has the following properties:
- astringent - a substance that can regulate consistency;
- antibacterial - copper sulfate eliminates bacteria, thereby protecting plants from the development of diseases;
- cauterizing;
- disinfectant;
- fungicidal - copper sulfate fights fungi and various types of mold;
- accelerates the synthesis of phytohormones in plants.
Copper sulfate molecule
Crystal lattice:
| 300 | Crystal cell | |
| 311 | Crystal grid #1 | |
| 312 | Lattice structure | Orthorhombic |
| 313 | Lattice parameters | a = 8.39 Å, b = 6.69 Å, c = 4.83 Å |
| 314 | c/a ratio | |
| 315 | Debye temperature | |
| 316 | Name of space symmetry group | Pnma |
| 317 | Symmetry space group number |
Obtaining copper sulfate
In the modern world, various methods for obtaining copper sulfate are known. For example, the most popular methods are:
- dissolution of various types of waste, the basis of which is methyl, in weak sulfuric acid with parallel blowing of air masses;
- dissolving copper oxide in highly concentrated sulfuric acid (in this case, air blowing is not required);
- copper roasting;
- electrolytic effect on pure copper - with this method, other by-products are released along with copper sulfate.
Summer treatment
Use of copper sulfate
Gardeners strongly recommend not to spray plants with copper sulfate at air temperatures above +30 degrees. So in summer the use of the drug is reduced to a minimum. Only when emergency measures are required to treat copper starvation in a tree or other young crop can a weak solution of the substance be used. Typically, signs of copper starvation appear in July. They are expressed in the death of plant tops, poor growth, and chlorosis.
Interesting!
The use of copper sulfate is usually alternated with other drugs. The reason is that this substance increases the acidity of the earth and, in addition, in high concentrations can be harmful.
CuSO4 can also be used in the summer to combat white rot, late blight, and blackleg. In this case, a 0.2% solution is needed, and the procedure is carried out only in the evening.
Reactions with copper sulfate and compounds based on it
Characteristic of copper sulfate is the electrical dissociation reaction, during which copper sulfur forms two substances - copper and sulfur oxide:
CuSO4 → Cu2 + SO4
The replacement reaction of copper sulfate is possible only in aqueous solutions in which there are metals whose activity exceeds the activity of copper - that is, metals that are located in the electrochemical series to the left of cuprum. Consider the substitution reaction with zinc:
CuSO4 + Zn → Cu ↓ + ZnSO4
Copper sulfate easily reacts with alkalis to release copper hydroxide, which is represented by a rich blue or dark blue precipitate:
CuSO4 + 2KOH → Cu(OH)2↓ + K2SO4
CuSO4 + 2NaOH → Cu(OH)2↓ + Na2SO4
Copper sulfate enters into exchange reactions with salts:
CuSO4 + BaCl2 → CuCl2 + BaSO4↓
Interaction of copper sulfate with ammonia:
CuSO4 + 4NH3 → [Cu(NH3)4]SO4
Areas of application of copper sulfate
Copper sulfate is extremely often used as a starting material for the production of a long list of compounds.
The anhydrous version of the substance is used to determine the level of humidity . In addition, it is involved in the drying of ethanol and some other compounds.
Most of all vitriol produced in the world goes to pest control in the agricultural sector . Based on copper sulfate, special solutions are prepared that protect plants from mold, mildew, and the negative effects of insects and bacteria.
In the construction industry, a solution of copper sulfate is necessary to eliminate the consequences of leaks of various kinds of liquids , as well as to remove ingrained rust and traces of salt on brick and stone walls . are impregnated with the solution in order to protect them from putrefactive processes, fungus and mold .
find copper sulfate in the list of ingredients of some coloring agents .
In medicine, a solution of copper sulfate is used as one of the components of electrolytic baths . In pharmacology, it is used as an ingredient for the preparation of medicinal mixtures .
In food production, copper sulfate is used as a substance that extends the shelf life of various products; the additive is known under the index E519. However, the use of copper sulfate in food production is strictly limited , and in some countries (for example, in Russia ) it is completely prohibited .
Copper sulfate is also used to treat ponds and swimming pools - there its effect is similar to what it has in the agricultural sector: the compound prevents the formation of bacteria.
Copper sulfate solution
Copper sulfate can also be found in the mining industry - it is used in the production of various non-ferrous metals. In metallurgy, copper sulfate is used in galvanic baths to produce copper cathodes.
Copper sulfate is used in the production of mirrors and glasses, canvases and paints for them.
Copper sulfate in gardening
The most popular, as mentioned above, copper sulfate solution is in the agricultural sector, where it is used for:
- combating late blight (a disease caused by the action of fungal-like microorganisms that attack tomatoes and potato tubers - as a result, they begin to rot and become moldy;
- protecting plants from the effects of pests. Moreover, copper sulfate is not addictive - over time, the effect of its use does not become less noticeable;
- land disinfection;
- as a fertilizer in case of a lack of copper in the soil - this problem is most typical for calcareous soils;
- fertilizers for both garden and indoor plants;
- prevention of fungal diseases in shrubs and trees.
Brief conclusions about the use of copper sulfate in various fields:
| Scope of application | Purpose of copper sulfate |
| Heavy industry | Galvanic processes |
| Food industry | Preservative |
| Chemical industry | Raw materials for the production of various compounds, metal analysis |
| Construction | Protection of wooden structures, removal of rust and salt deposits from walls |
| Production of paints and varnishes | Component of paints that regulates their consistency |
| Medicine | Antiseptic, cauterizing agent, solution that improves the patient’s condition in case of severe poisoning |
| Livestock | Food supplement |
| Agriculture | Soil treatment to protect plants from various diseases |
| Treatment of ponds and plants | Preventing the negative impact of bacteria on water quality |
Precautionary measures
When working with chemicals, the following precautions must be observed:
- For preparation, use special containers (not made of metal).
- Prepare solutions according to the instructions, without exceeding the specified standards.
- When diluting the mixture, wear protective clothing (gloves, mask and goggles).
- To better dissolve the powder, use only warm water.
- The solution is prepared immediately before use. Residues cannot be stored and must be disposed of.
- The mixture can be stored for 2-3 days. It is placed in a cold place, but away from food, and also in places inaccessible to children and animals. Plastic containers are chosen for storage.
The effect of copper sulfate on the human body
When interacting with a solution based on copper sulfate, it is necessary to strictly follow the rules to ensure the safety of workers. Thus, strict adherence to the recommended dosages is extremely important.
In excess quantities, the compound in question is dangerous for humans: it has a particularly aggressive effect on the skin and mucous membranes, causing irritation, redness and rash. With regular contact with copper sulfate, there is a high risk of destruction of the membrane layer of red blood cells, causing problems with the bronchi, lungs and organs of the digestive system.
Copper sulfate in the amount of 11 microns per 1 kilogram of weight is considered dangerous.
From the point of view of toxicity, the compound in question belongs to hazard class 2 - these are highly hazardous substances. They have a negative impact on human and animal health.
Pharmacological action of copper sulfate
Copper sulfate can have an antiseptic effect and, at the same time, cause emetic reactions. Under certain conditions, the substance is able to neutralize phosphorus and remove it from the body.
In small quantities, copper sulfate stimulates the production of hemoglobin, so drugs containing it are often prescribed to patients suffering from anemia.
Other uses of copper-containing drugs
As a fertilizer, copper sulfate is applied to poor soils: sandy and sandy loam. In early spring or autumn, add 1 g of copper sulfate per 1 m² every 5-6 years. In case of copper deficiency, foliar feeding with the drug is carried out - 1-2 g / 10 l of water.
In greenhouses and greenhouses, in cellars, sheds, gazebos, wooden walls and floorings, as well as fences, are treated with a copper-containing solution. It acts as an antiseptic if surfaces are sprayed, brushed or sponged. After the surface has dried, the treatment is repeated 1-2 more times. Such work is carried out every 3-4 months.
Clue. Protection will be more effective if clay is added to the solution and load-bearing fence posts, support beams of greenhouses, and the porch of a house in a summer cottage are treated with this mixture. It is necessary to prevent mold from becoming deeply embedded in the wood, otherwise it will not be destroyed and removed.
Harm of copper sulfate
Experts who conducted research in different countries and at different times have established the toxic effects of copper sulfate on human health. Thus, copper sulfate has the ability to accumulate in the body, having a negative effect on the condition of the liver and kidneys.
A particularly strong negative effect can occur if the substance is accidentally ingested. The degree of harm is determined by a person’s age, weight and health status.
Experts call the following symptoms of copper sulfate poisoning:
- severe vomiting;
- diarrhea and bloating in the abdominal area;
- damage to mucous membranes;
- convulsions;
- acceleration of heart rate.
In case of poisoning, it is necessary to urgently rinse the stomach.
Safety regulations
The copper-containing preparation is somewhat toxic to bees and humans. Bees are isolated during the garden processing period for 5-20 hours. If dosages are observed, phytotoxicity does not occur.
The safety measures are as follows:
- Do not cultivate the garden in the presence of children or pets.
- Use glasses to prevent splashes of the drug on the mucous membranes of the eyes.
- Work with gloves so that the mixture does not get on your skin.
- Do not drink, smoke or eat while spraying.
- The remaining solution must not be poured into drainage systems and sewers.
- To prepare the solution, use glass or plastic containers and mark them so as not to accidentally put food in them.
- Enameled metal utensils are not suitable as the mixture will corrode the enamel.
Important. If the solution gets into the gastrointestinal tract and vomits, immediately call an ambulance and do not take any medication on your own. Water with potassium permanganate to induce vomiting will only worsen the condition. If the mixture gets into your eyes, rinse them with running water several times.
You cannot prepare mixtures in your own kitchen, since room temperature affects sulfite impurities, resulting in a cloudy solution. It will take 30 or more days to settle and release the sediment.
Instructions for using copper sulfate
Gardening
To prepare a solution of copper sulfate for treating plants, you will need hot water and, in fact, the copper sulfate itself. Its volume depends on what specific plant you are dealing with.
Traditionally, a 1% solution of copper sulfate is used, the consumption rate of which is 10 liters per 100 m2. The volume of solution required for treatment depends on the specific plant you are dealing with.
There are the following rules for diluting copper sulfate to obtain a solution for treatment:
- apple, pear and quince - 100 g of powder per 10 liters of water, consumption - from 2 to 5 liters per tree;
- apricot, peach, plum and cherry – 50-60 g of powder per 10 liters of water, consumption – from 2 to 3 liters per tree;
- gooseberries and currants - 50-60 g of powder per 10 liters of water, and one bush will require approximately 1.5 liters;
- potatoes - 2 g of the drug per 10 liters of water.
Copper sulfate is diluted in water until the crystals are completely dissolved. In the warm season and spring, it is recommended to use a 1% solution of vitriol; for older plants it is better to use a more concentrated preparation.
Spring treatment is carried out in early March (even before the formation and swelling of buds), when the temperature lingers at around 5 to 6 degrees. Repeated treatment is carried out in early autumn.
It is important to limit access for children and animals to plant processing areas.
It is not recommended to store the prepared solution for a long time - over time it loses its properties.
It is allowed to work with vitriol solution only in protective gloves, avoiding it getting into the skin and eyes.
Copper sulfate for the pool, dosage per cube
To disinfect pool water, a proportion of 0.9 grams of copper sulfate per 1 cubic meter (1000 liters) is used. Salt is often added to pool water along with vitriol; this is an additional antiseptic for the water. The proportion is 3:1, i.e. three parts salt and 1 part vitriol.
Such proportions of water and copper sulfate are considered safe for the pool. What will happen if a solution of copper sulfate gets inside is described above; it is a carcinogenic substance and the more of it gets inside, the higher the likelihood of poisoning and death. Therefore, when disinfecting pool water, do not exceed the established proportions.
Pharmacology
Copper sulfate solution is also used to treat various diseases:
| Copper sulfate solution concentration | Purpose |
| 0,1 % | Phosphorus poisoning - the solution is used to lavage the stomach and remove traces of phosphorus |
| 0,25 % | Conjunctivitis - the solution is used in the form of eye drops, for one eye use 2 to 3 drops of the drug |
| 0,25 – 1,0 % | Urethritis and vaginitis |
| 0,5 – 1,0 % | Vitiligo - the drug is taken orally with meals. Use 5 to 15 drops of medicine three times a day |
| 1 % | Emetic - it is recommended to use 15 ml of solution orally every 10 minutes until vomiting occurs |
| 5,0 % | Burns from phosphorus - cotton pads are soaked in a medicinal solution, then lotions are made for the affected areas of the skin |
Preparation of copper sulfate
In laboratory conditions, pure copper, sometimes hydroxide, is most often used to obtain copper sulfate. When adding sulfuric acid solution to copper, it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature not exceeding 60 ° C to minimize the risk of producing a by-product - copper sulfide (CuS2). Laboratory synthesis equation:
Cu + H2SO4→ CuSO4 +SO2 + H2O
When obtaining sulfate from copper hydroxide, neutralization is carried out with sulfuric acid:
Cu(OH)2 + H2SO4 →CuSO4 + 2H2O
In most cases, copper sulfate contaminated with iron is first obtained, which requires additional purification. It is extremely difficult to obtain an initially pure product; for this, expensive chemically pure reagents, distilled water, catalysts are used, evaporation is carried out, the whole process takes several hours, and the yield is small. Therefore, superficial or deep cleaning is most often used, depending on what the copper salt of sulfuric acid will subsequently be used for.
In the laboratory, purification is carried out by recrystallization. To do this, prepare a saturated solution of copper sulfate in distilled water, which is cooled to 5 °C, a precipitate of crystals forms, with which the procedure is then repeated. After several cycles of recrystallization, the mixture is boiled with lead dioxide until no iron impurities remain in the solution (this is checked by sampling and conducting qualitative reactions). After this, the solution is evaporated until copper sulfate crystals precipitate. In the process of deep purification, especially pure copper sulfate is obtained, in which the content of impurities has absolutely no effect on the physical and chemical properties.
In industrial production, copper waste, in particular copper scrap, is most often used. At specialized chemical industry plants, copper sulfate is produced in several stages:
- Melting copper scrap in a fiery furnace for 4.5 - 5 hours, preparing raw materials to increase reactivity, as well as purification from other metals.
- Copper present in scrap is oxidized to cuprous oxide at a temperature of 1000 -1084 °C. This substance reacts with impurities (Fe, Zn, Pb, Al), leading to the formation of pure copper and metal oxides (FeO, ZnO, etc.).
- By-products do not dissolve, but turn into slag and are removed.
- The temperature is lowered so that the remaining copper in the solution in the form of sulfides is oxidized; the reaction proceeds very intensely with splashes.
- In a reverberatory furnace, copper is granulated - producing granules with thin walls and a large surface area that will dissolve well in sulfuric acid. This requires the presence of gases (sulfur dioxide and oxygen) in the mixture.
- A little bit of lump sulfur is additionally added to the boiling mixture.
- The solution is poured into cold water in a thin stream in a granular pool, represented by a concrete pit. This stage ensures the formation of granules through sudden cooling and release of gases.
- Granules with a diameter of 1.5 are collected in a steel basket, through the holes of which excess water drains when lifted.
- The mixture is then loaded into a pickling tower, where it is dissolved in sulfuric acid with constant air flow. A major role at this stage is played by oxygen, which reacts with copper, forming its oxide: Cu + O2 → 2Cu2O. It is this compound that dissolves in sulfuric acid: Cu2O + H2SO4 → CuSO4 + H2O Cuprous sulfate is formed, which is then oxidized to copper sulfate.
- A fresh saturated solution of copper sulfate flows out of the pickling tower and enters the rotating crystallizer.
- Inside the installation, the liquid is cooled, crystals are formed, which are separated in a centrifuge.
- The mixture enters the dryer, where it is dried from excess moisture with hot air (110 °C).
- Copper sulfate is purified using repeated recrystallization.
From 300 kg of copper scrap and 400 kg of sulfuric acid, 1 ton of copper sulfate is obtained. In addition to dissolution in acid, the electrolytic method is also used in industry. To do this, first prepare an electrolyte with a ratio of copper to sulfuric acid of 3:2. Electrolysis takes place in special baths, where a copper cathode is located at the bottom. At a constant temperature of 70-80 °C and blowing with air for 12-24 hours, a solution of copper sulfate is formed. It is then evaporated, removing unnecessary impurities (usually iron and calcium), and cooled in a crystallizer to obtain the finished product.
Copper sulfate as a food additive: its hazard class and storage features
Copper sulfate in the food industry is known under the index E519. It belongs to the class of stabilizers that regulate the consistency of food products.
Nowadays, copper sulfate is prohibited from being used in food production in the following countries: Norway, England, Russia and EU countries. But there are countries that use it in the food industry, these include Japan and Ukraine.
Copper sulfate belongs to hazard class 2 - that is, highly dangerous compounds. The substance has the ability to accumulate in the human body, causing disruption of the liver and kidneys.
It is recommended to store copper sulfate in multilayer paper or polypropylene bags with an additional polyethylene insert. Copper sulfate arrives on the shelves of specialized stores in plastic jars or bottles; less often it can be found in thick plastic bags.
How to purchase
In the Prime Chemicals Group store you can purchase copper sulfate 5-water of technical qualification, packaged in 1 kg and 25 kg. We have developed several ways to order goods, choose the one that is more convenient for you.
• Online; • by phone or by ordering a call back (look at the top of the site page); • via email; • via WhatsApp and Telegram messengers; • pick-up from a warehouse in Mytishchi.
We will deliver the reagent to any region of the country. The cost is indicated on the product page on the pcgroup.ru website, but pleasant discounts are available for wholesale buyers.
