Copper Sulfate Crystals

Copper sulfate crystals are very popular and find extensive use as a chemical in laboratories and experimentation work. The distinctive characteristic of the crystal is the repetitive internal pattern that gives them a unique shape. The crystals of copper sulfate, just like sugar crystals or alum crystals, have specific internal structure due to different alignment of atoms and molecules. Gemstones like diamonds, emeralds and rubies are also forms of crystals.

Copper sulfate is a chemical compound that is prepared by reacting various compounds of copper along with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). The chemical formula for copper sulfate is CuSO₄ and it exists in various forms of hydration. For instance, CuSO₄.5H₂O is pentahydrate form of copper sulfate salt and is most commonly used in laboratories. The anhydrous form of copper sulfate salt, that is the salt CuSO₄, without any water of crystallization, is white in color; whereas the salt CuSO₄.5H₂O, with 5 water molecules attached to it, is bright blue in color. This is the basic test between anhydrous and hydrous forms of copper sulfate salt. The anhydrous form of CuSO₄ is used to prepare copper sulfate crystals by dissolving it in water.

Copper Sulfate Uses
Copper sulfate is used in destroying algae in water supplies and they are also used as an important ingredient of Bordeaux mixture sprays (as a fungicide) to put a check on plant diseases. Besides that they are used in copper plating, anemia blood tests and also act as a good desiccant.

Making Copper Sulfate Crystals
It is among the easiest crystals that can be grown in the comfort of your home. In fact, growing copper sulfate crystals is one of the most interesting science fair projects among middle school and high school students. Growing them is easier at home, if one follows some simple tips. Crystals that are made at home or school laboratories are grown from solutions in water.

How to grow crystals? It's quite easy! Well, for growing crystals, one needs to dissolve the chemical in water, then evaporate or cool the solution that helps in the crystallization of the substance. Generally, putting seed crystals or hanging a string in the growing solution provides surface for the crystals to form. It is necessary to keep the copper sulfate solution undisturbed for growing the crystals.

Prepare a Saturated Solution of Copper Sulfate
Stir copper sulfate in a solution of hot water and keep adding copper sulfate until no more of it can be dissolved. Just by pouring the solution in a jar and waiting for a few days can give you the desired crystals, however, they may not be properly shaped. To grow perfect crystals, you can first grow seed crystals.

Growing a Seed Crystal
To grow proper sulfate crystals, first you can grow a small seed crystal that will help to form a larger copper sulfate crystal, in proper shape. Take a shallow dish or a saucer and pour little solution of saturated copper sulfate in it. Let the seed crystal sit in an undisturbed position for at least a day and then slowly scrape it off the container, once it has dried. Tie this seed crystal to a length of nylon fishing line.

Growing Copper Sulfate Crystals with the help of Seed Crystals
Suspend the seed crystal into a clean jar that is already filled with a solution of copper sulfate made at the start of this task. Carefully place the seed crystal in the center and ensure it doesn't touch the sides of the jar. Also, don't let any undissolved crystals spill into the jar.

Try to keep the jar in a place where it can be left untouched for few days. Putting a paper towel or coffee filter on the container is allowed. The idea behind putting porous papers or filters is to let proper air ventilation for the solution to evaporate leaving behind the copper sulfate crystals. Regular checking of the crystals is important to monitor their growth.

You can frequently take a look and see if the crystals are growing. If you find that some crystals are also growing sideways, then you carefully take out the seed crystal and pour the solution in another clean jar and again keep it aside. After a few days, you will be able to see blue colored crystals in your jar. You can keep it to dry and after some time, your crystal will be ready for use. While making copper sulfate crystals at home, you have to be vigilant enough to not disturb the solution due to any external factor till the crystals have formed completely. If you take care and follow these steps carefully, then definitely, you can make well shaped crystals at home.