Why copper sulphate is called blue vitriol?? Thank you.

1 Answer
anor277
Aug 8, 2018

Copper sulfate is a derivative of sulfuric acid, which was commonly called #"oil of vitriol..."#

Explanation:

And it could be produced from #"copper(II) oxide:"#

#CuO(s) + H_2SO_4(aq) rarr CuSO_4(aq) + H_2O(l)#

The sulfate salt, as the hexahydrate, i.e. #[Cu(OH_2)_6]^(2+)#, is a beautiful blue colour, and macroscopic crystals can be grown..hence #"blue vitriol"#.

kids.britannica.com

Note that anhydrous copper sulfate is WHITE...the colour derives from aquation of the cupric ion by water molecules...

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