Copper II sulphate
Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate (CuSO4 x 5H2O, blue gal) is the most significant copper salt, which was known to ancient Egyptians.
Plinius described its production in Spain, and in 1880 its fungicidal action was discovered, which triggered its industrial production. In nature form, there are lazur blue, triclinic, mineral crystals of low-alkalinity that are easily soluble in water. Of the five molecular crystalline water molecules, four are complex bonded to copper and the fifth to the sulfate ion. It is industrially obtained by dissolving copper in diluted sulfuric acid. It can also be obtained by crystallization from electrolyte residual copper refining and sulfuric acid activity on copper oxychloride (Bigourdan-Bebin process).
Application:
Most used is mixed with lime as fungicide (perennial soup) against peronospore on the vine and plant pests on potatoes, fruit and tomatoes. It is also used as an activator for cobalt, lead and zinc ore floats, for destruction of algae in tanks, watercourses and pools, for wood preservation, as electrolyte in galvanic articles and steam baths, and in medicine against fungal infections.
Copper sulphate is a blue crystal.
The content of CuSO4 X 5H2O is at minimum of 99%.
Application of copper sulphate:
- As a fungicide in agriculture
- In Mining Milling Industry
- For wood impregnation
- For dyeing textiles
- For the water purification from algae (in pools, lakes …)