Copper(I) sulfate

Copper(I) sulfate, also known as cuprous sulfate, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Cu₂SO₄. It is a white solid, in contrast to copper(II) sulfate, which is blue in hydrous form. Compared to the commonly available reagent, copper(II) sulfate, copper(I) sulfate is unstable and not readily available.

Structure

Cu₂SO₄ crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Fddd. Each oxygen in a sulfate anion is bridged to another sulfate by a copper atom, and the Cu−O distances are 196 pm.

Synthesis

Cuprous sulfate is produced by the reaction of copper metal with sulfuric acid at 200 °C:

2 Cu 2 H₂SO₄ → Cu₂SO₄ SO₂ 2 H₂O

Cu₂SO₄ can also be synthesized by the action of dimethyl sulfate on cuprous oxide:

Cu₂O (CH₃O)₂SO₂ → Cu₂SO₄ (CH₃)₂O

The material is stable in dry air at room temperature but decomposes rapidly in presence of moisture or upon heating. It decomposes into copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate upon contact with water.

Cu₂SO₄ 5 H₂O → Cu CuSO₄ · 5 H₂O

References