Question

Write the balanced equation for the hydration of CuSO4. Indicate the physical states using the abbreviations (s), (l), or (g) for solid, liquid, or gas, respectively?

Indicate appropriate charges on negative and positive ions if they are formed.

Answer 1

`CuSO_4(s)+5H_2O(l)->CuSO_4*5H_2O(s)`

Explanation:

We start off with the anhydrous copper(II) sulfate crystal, which is white in colour. And so, we write the first part of the chemical equation as:

`CuSO_4(s)`

Next thing, we add water to it, which is commonly found as in the liquid form in the lab, and so we write:

`CuSO_4(s)+H_2O(l)`

A hydrate of a compound is usually denoted as `X*H_2O`, where `X` is a compound. Note that the hydrate formed here will still be solid (crystal form).

So, our equation becomes:

`CuSO_4(s)+H_2O(l)->CuSO_4*H_2O(s)`

From here, it is stated that copper(II) sulfate is commonly found in the pentahydrate form, i.e. it contains `5H_2O`. So, I would write my equation as:

`CuSO_4(s)+5H_2O(l)->CuSO_4*5H_2O(s)`