Required practical: make copper sulfate
Use dilute sulfuric acid and insoluble copper oxide. CuO + H₂SO₄ → CuSO₄ + H₂O. Aim for a pure, dry sample of blue copper sulfate crystals. Wear eye protection; handle hot equipment carefully.
Lesson 4.8 · AQA Combined Science
Making a soluble salt
React, then filter
1. Gently warm dilute sulfuric acid with a Bunsen burner, then stop heating.
2. Add copper oxide in small portions and stir until some remains unreacted. This excess shows the acid has been used up.
3. Filter. Excess black oxide stays as the residue; copper sulfate solution passes through as the filtrate.
Concentrate, cool and dry
4. Use a water bath or electric heater to evaporate some water gently; do not heat to dryness.
5. Leave the concentrated solution to cool so crystals form.
6. Filter the crystals, rinse with a small amount of cold distilled water and blot dry with filter paper.
Remember
Add excess solid → filter → evaporate some water → cool → collect and dry crystals.
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