Crystals of copper sulfate are prepared by the process of crystallization using copper oxide and dilute sulfuric acid. The method involves several key steps:
- Warm some dilute sulfuric acid in a beaker or conical flask.
- Add copper(II) oxide powder slowly to the warm acid while stirring with a glass rod. Continue adding copper oxide until it no longer dissolves, indicating excess copper oxide.
- Filter the mixture to remove the undissolved copper oxide, collecting the blue copper sulfate solution (filtrate).
- Heat the filtrate gently to evaporate some of the water until the solution becomes saturated (a small amount of water evaporated).
- Allow the solution to cool and then leave it undisturbed for some time to allow blue hydrated copper sulfate crystals to form.
- Once crystals have formed, they can be collected and dried.
This method results in pure, dry, blue copper sulfate crystals that are regularly shaped.
