Copper belongs to the group of seven metals that are known to man from ancient times. Today, not only copper, but also its compounds are widely used in various industries, agriculture, household and medicine.
The most important salt of copper is copper sulfate. The formula for this substance is CuSO4. It is a strong electrolyte and is a white small crystals, soluble in water, without taste and odor. The substance is non-combustible and is fireproof, with its use the possibility of spontaneous combustion is completely excluded. Copper sulfate, when exposed to even the smallest amount of moisture from the air, acquires a characteristic blue color with bright blueness. In this case, copper sulfate is converted to the blue pentahydrate CuSO4 · 5H2O, known as copper sulfate.
In industry, copper sulfate can be obtained in several ways. One of the most common is the dissolution of copper waste in dilute hydrochloric acid. Under laboratory conditions, copper sulfate is obtained using the neutralization reaction of copper hydroxide with sulfuric acid. The formula of the process is as follows: Cu (OH) 2 + H2SO4 → CuSO4 + H2O.
The color changing property of copper sulfate is used to detect the presence of moisture in organic liquids. With its help, in the laboratory, dehydration of ethanol and other substances is carried out.
Widely used in agricultural industries, copper sulfate or in another way copper sulfate. Its use, first of all, is to use a weak solution for spraying plants and dressing cereals before sowing in order to destroy harmful fungal spores. Well-known Bordeaux liquid and milk of lime are made on the basis of copper sulfate, sold through retail outlets and intended for the treatment of plants from fungal diseases and the destruction of grape aphids.
In construction, copper sulfate is often used. Its use in this area is to neutralize leaks, eliminate rust spots. The substance is also used to remove salts from brick, concrete or plastered surfaces. In addition, they treat wood as an antiseptic in order to avoid rotting processes.
In official medicine, copper sulfate is a drug. He is prescribed by a doctor for external use as eye drops, solutions for washing and douching, as well as for the treatment of burns received by phosphorus. As an internal remedy, it is used to irritate the stomach to induce vomiting if necessary.
In addition, mineral paints are made from copper sulfate, it is used in spinning solutions for the manufacture of acetate fiber.
In the food industry, copper sulfate is registered as a food additive E519, used as a fixative for coloring and preservative.
When selling copper sulfate in a retail network, it is labeled as a highly hazardous substance. If it enters the human digestive system in an amount of 8 to 30 grams, it can be fatal. Therefore, when using copper sulfate in everyday life, one should be very careful. In case of contact with skin or eyes, rinse thoroughly with cool running water. If it enters the stomach, it is necessary to rinse with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, drink saline laxative and diuretic.
When working with copper sulfate at home, use rubber gloves and other protective equipment, including a respirator. It is forbidden to use food utensils for the preparation of solutions. After finishing work, you must wash your hands and face, as well as rinse your mouth.