Blue Vitriol is one of the most common and recognizable chemicals in a school laboratory, famous for its bright blue crystals.
Blue Vitriol Formula: CuSO₄·5H₂O.
Chemical Name: Copper (II) Sulphate Pentahydrate.
Color: Bright Blue. Heating turns it White (anhydrous).
Molar Mass of CuSO₄: 159.5 g/mol.
Molar Mass of CuSO₄·5H₂O: 249.5 g/mol.
The '5H₂O' part represents the water of crystallization. These are 5 water molecules loosely attached to the copper sulphate molecule, giving it its blue colour. If you heat the blue crystals, the water evaporates, leaving behind anhydrous copper sulphate, which is white.
To calculate the molar mass of CuSO₄ (without water):
To calculate the molar mass of the hydrated crystal:
The chemical formula of blue vitriol is CuSO₄·5H₂O (Copper sulphate pentahydrate).
The molar mass of anhydrous CuSO₄ is 159.5 g/mol. The molar mass of hydrated CuSO₄·5H₂O is 249.5 g/mol.
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