Copper sulfate

Copper(II) sulfate, also known as copper sulphate, are the inorganic compounds with the chemical formula CuSO4(H2O)x, where x can range from 0 to 5. The pentahydrate (x = 5) is the most common form. Older names for this compound include blue vitriol, bluestone, vitriol of copper and Roman vitriol. The pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O), the most commonly encountered salt, is bright blue. Anhydrous copper sulfate is a light grey powder. Copper sulfate is produced industrially by treating copper metal with hot concentrated sulfuric acid or its oxides with dilute sulfuric acid. Commercial copper sulfate is usually about 98% pure copper sulfate, and may contain traces of water. Anhydrous Copper sulfate is 39.81 percent copper and 60.19 percent sulfate by mass, and in its blue, hydrous form, it is 25.47% copper, 38.47% sulfate (12.82% sulfur) and 36.06% water by mass. Four difrent types of crystal size are provided based on its usage. Copper sulfate pentahydrate is used as a fungicide. However, some fungi are capable of adapting to elevated levels of copper ions. Copper sulfate can be used as a mordant in vegetable dyeing. It often highlights the green tints of the specific dyes. Copper sulfate is used to etch zinc or copper plates for intaglio printmaking. It is also used to etch designs into copper.