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Make Copper Sulfate from Copper and Sulfuric acid (3 ways)

video Make Copper Sulfate from Copper and Sulfuric acid (3 ways)
We make copper sulfate from copper and sulfuric acid using two chemical methods and one electrochemical method.

Copper does not directly react with sulfuric acid so some form of oxidant is needed. Hydrogen peroxide and nitric acid are excellent oxidants and the first two methods demonstrate this. The nitric acid method however produces toxic nitrogen dioxide gas so you'll need to perform this one outside or in a fumehood.

Because both chemical methods are rather expensive. A very cheap electrochemical method can be performed by running a current through two copper electrodes immersed in sulfuric acid. The copper is converted to copper ions at the positive electrode and hydrogen gas is formed at the negative electrode.

However if the electrodes are placed side by side then the copper ions will diffuse to the negative electrode and get converted back into copper. This is wasteful as you've used power to accomplish nothing. So the better way is to separate both by gravity with the positive electrode at the bottom. The denser solution of copper sulfate will remain near the bottom and thus increase efficiency.

As a side note, the electrochemical method is actually very expensive if you use batteries as your power source. The charge on a battery generates a comparatively small quantity of total copper sulfate compared to the same cost of chemicals for the chemical methods. The cheapest way is to use a DC power supply. The cost of municipal electricity is very small compared to the cost of batteries and chemicals.

Please check out our channel at http://www.youtube.com/NurdRage
19 comments
Oct 19, 2010. 4:38 PMJimmy Proton says:
i made some of this and decided to let it evaporate and its been sitting in a bottle for months and almost nothing has happened...
Jan 25, 2012. 3:33 PMSovereignty says:
So almost 18 months later, is it still in a bottle unchanged? 'Cause I've had mine in a flask for almost a week now and there's been no noticeable change either: blue liquid, pieces of copper and some blue crystals.
Jun 20, 2011. 1:15 AMTheMadScientist says:
there's a more efficient electrochemical reaction. it involves using a magnesium sulfate solution with a copper anode:

Cu + MgSO4 + 2 H2O → H2 + CuSO4 + Mg(OH)2
that is to say, copper and a magnesium sulfate (more commonly known as epsom salt) solution is electrochemically converted into hydrogen, copper sulfate, and magnesium hydroxide... :D
Jul 27, 2009. 11:03 AMdioblo2345 says:
what can you do with this after you make this????
Jun 1, 2011. 4:12 PMJack A Lopez says:
If you have a several tons of copper(ii) sulfate, and several thousand liters of hot water, and  a small construction crew, you can turn an old apartment into a magical blue crystal cavern, as explained here:

http://www.artangel.org.uk/projects/2008/seizure

Artist on site: Roger Hiorns on Seizure from Artangel on Vimeo.



What do you mean, "What is it good for?"
;-)

Aug 20, 2009. 9:15 AMjunits15 says:
electroplate stuff
Jul 27, 2009. 3:39 PMdioblo2345 says:
i asked this becuase i bought a chem set with wierd toxic stuff in it and one of the things in it copper sulfate ps do you know what magnisium sulfate is if so can you tell me thing that i could use it for..........
Dec 24, 2009. 8:25 PMJaycub says:
Magnesium sulfate is epsom salt.
Feb 11, 2011. 8:09 PMjoypad says:
about how long would it take to get crystals the size of say a half brick? also how much solution would you need?
Nov 8, 2010. 9:29 AMh0meIandsecurity says:
(removed by author or community request)
Nov 9, 2010. 10:34 AMh0meIandsecurity says:
atx*
Jul 26, 2009. 4:43 PMPrfesser says:
An even cheaper way to get copper sulfate is to look for root killer preparations at the local farm supply store. Some are pure copper sulfate.
Jul 27, 2009. 5:59 AMPrfesser says:
My apologies. I did not watch the video, I only read the discussion you wrote.
Jul 26, 2009. 6:31 PMcowscankill says:
I would do this just to get the crystals. Are they toxic? They look cool!
Jul 27, 2009. 5:45 AMcowscankill says:
Very true. I just wanted to know if was safe, so make sure kids can't get to it :D

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