practical

• what is the aim of this experiment?

  to prepare a pure, dry sample of hydrated copper (II) sulfate crystals
• what are materials for this experiment?

  • 1.0 mol/dm3 dilute sulfuric acid
  • copper (II) oxide
  • spatula + glass rod
  • measuring cylinder + 100cm3 beaker
  • Bunsen burner
  • tripod, gauze + heatproof mat
  • filter funnel + paper, conical flask
  • evaporating basin + dish
• what is the method of this experiment?

  • add 50cm3 dilute acid into a beaker + warm gently using a Bunsen burner
  • add the copper (II) oxide slowly to the hot dilute acid + stir until the base is in excess
  • filter the mixture into an evaporating basin to remove the excess base
  • gently heat the solution in a water bath or with an electric heater to evaporate the water + to make the solution saturated
  • check the solution is saturated by dipping a cold glass rod into the solution and seeing if crystals form on the end
  • leave the filtrate in a warm place to dry + crystallise
  • decant excess solution + allow the crystals to dry
• what should be the results of this experiment?

  hydrated copper(II) sulfate crystals should be bright blue + regularly shaped