Blue vitriol (otherwise - copper sulfate, copper sulfate) is a powder consisting of crystals of azure blue color. In nature, it is found in the form of a mineral.
Application
Copper is one of the trace elements needed by plants. In agriculture, it is used in the form of Bordeaux liquid (a solution of copper sulfate in milk of lime) from grape aphids and various fungal diseases. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on the process of respiration and photosynthesis of plants.
Copper sulfate is also used for seed dressing before planting, thus destroying mold spores on the seeds.
Copper sulfate (aqueous solution) is used to neutralize the effects of leaks, remove salts, rust stains from plastered, concrete and brick surfaces; give wood refractory properties and prevent its decay by impregnating the wood with a solution of copper sulfate.
Anhydrous copper sulfate is used as an indicator of indoor humidity. In laboratories, it is used to dry ethanol and other substances.
Copper sulfate is used in the manufacture of mineral paints, in the production of acetate fiber (part of the spinning solutions). It can be used to detect zinc, magnesium and manganese in stainless steel and aluminum alloys.
Copper sulfate in the food industry is used as a preservative (food additive) E519. In animal husbandry - as mineral additives in animal feed.
Used in medicine as an astringent, antiseptic and cauterizing agent. In cases of white phosphorus poisoning, it is recommended to rinse the stomach with a 0.1% solution of copper sulfate.
Copper sulfate is also used in electroplating - when coating copper with metal products; in the metallurgical industry; in nickel plating processes, and as a feedstock in the preparation of other compounds.
Copper sulfate: properties
Copper sulfate is a non-combustible, fire- and explosion-proof substance. Very hygroscopic. It is odorless, has no metallic taste. It is well soluble in water, in diluted alcohol and in a concentrated solution of hydrochloric acid. When heated, it loses water and turns gray. If, after cooling, dripping water on a gray powder, it again acquires a blue color. It is completely dehydrated at a temperature of 258C. Melts at a temperature of 1100C. Chalcanthite, butite, chalcocyanite, and others are found in nature in the form of minerals.
Sulphate Crystal
It is easy to grow a beautiful blue crystal of copper sulfate at home (by the way, it will be possible to grow violet crystals from chromium-potassium alum and colorless crystals from table salt in the same way). The whole process will take two to three weeks.
To work, you will need wire, thread, a glass jar and copper sulfate (or any other selected salt). A very concentrated salt solution is prepared: we add, constantly stirring, the salt in a jar of water until it stops dissolving. Then slightly warm the mixture, for better dissolution of the salt, for which the can (or glass) is placed in a pan with heated water.
The concentrated solution obtained in this way is poured into a beaker, a small crystal of the same salt is suspended there with a wire jumper, immersed in a thread on the thread. On this crystal (seed) the crystal we need will grow.
We place the glass with the solution in the open form in a warm place and observe how the crystal grows. When it becomes large enough, we take it out of the solution, dry it with a paper towel or a soft cloth, cut the thread and cover it with a colorless varnish (so as not to “disappear” in the air).
The resulting crystal is very similar to a gem.