Copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate is a crystalline solid with a beautiful bright blue color. Like most sulfate salts, it dissolves well in water. If you want or need to separate copper sulfate from sand -- either as a classroom experiment or because you accidentally mixed the one with the other -- you can take advantage of this compound's properties to take the two apart.
- Paper coffee filter
- 2 buckets
- Funnel
Copper sulfate is often used dissolved in water to kill fungi or algae. If you need to separate the copper sulfate from the water, evaporate the water by heating the mixture or leaving it out in the sun until all the water evaporates.
Copper sulfate may be poisonous if swallowed; it's also an eye and skin irritant. Take appropriate precautions and never leave copper sulfate where children can reach it.
Pour the sand and copper sulfate into one of the two buckets.
Pour water into the bucket until it covers the sand and copper sulfate mixture. The copper sulfate should begin to dissolve; stir if you need to make it dissolve more rapidly.
Place the paper filter in the funnel. Holding the funnel over the second bucket, pour the mixture through it. The dissolved copper sulfate will pass through the filter, while the sand will remain behind. The solution you have in the second bucket contains copper sulfate only.
Things You'll Need
Tips
Warnings
References
- "Chemical Principles, the Quest for Insight, 4th Edition"; Peter Atkins and Loretta Jones; 2008
Tips
- Copper sulfate is often used dissolved in water to kill fungi or algae. If you need to separate the copper sulfate from the water, evaporate the water by heating the mixture or leaving it out in the sun until all the water evaporates.
Warnings
- Copper sulfate may be poisonous if swallowed; it's also an eye and skin irritant. Take appropriate precautions and never leave copper sulfate where children can reach it.
About the Author
Based in San Diego, John Brennan has been writing about science and the environment since 2006. His articles have appeared in "Plenty," "San Diego Reader," "Santa Barbara Independent" and "East Bay Monthly." Brennan holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of California, San Diego.
Photo Credits
sand image by kw-on from Fotolia.com