Copper(I) sulfate, also known as cuprous sulfate, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formulaCu2SO4. 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.[1]
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.[1]
Synthesis
Cuprous sulfate is produced by the reaction of copper metal with sulfuric acid at 200 °C:[3]
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.[4]
^O. Glemser; R. Sauer (1963). "Copper (I) Sulfate". In G. Brauer (ed.). Handbook of Preparative Inorganic Chemistry, 2nd Ed. Vol. 2pages=1020. NY, NY: Academic Press.
^ abVo Van, Kim; Habashi, Faith (1972). "Identification and Thermal Stability of Copper(I) Sulfate". Can. J. Chem.50 (23): 3872–3875. doi:10.1139/v72-610.