Bluestone

Bluestone is another name for Copper Sulfate, the chemical compound with the formula CuSO4. This salt exists as a series of compounds that differ in their degree of hydration. The anhydrous form is a pale green or gray-white powder, whereas the pentahydrate, the most commonly encountered salt, is bright blue.


 * Copper(II) sulfate **, also known as ** cupric sulfate ** or copper sulphate, is the chemical compound with the chemical formulaCuSO 4 . This salt exists as a series of compounds that differ in their degree of hydration . The anhydrous form is a pale green or gray-white powder, whereas the pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O), the most commonly encountered salt, is bright blue. Copper sulfate e xothermically dissolves in water to give the aquo __complex__ [Cu(H2O)6]2+, which has octahedral molecular geometry and is paramagnetic . Other names for copper(II) sulfate are "blue vitriol" and "bluestone".

Copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate decomposes before melting at 150 °C, losing two water molecules at 63 °C, followed by two more at 109 °C and the final water molecule at 200 °C. Dehydration proceeds by decomposition of the tetraaquacopper(2+) moiety, two opposing aqua groups are lost to give a diaquacopper(2+) moiety. The second dehydration step occurs with the final two aqua groups are lost. Complete dehydration occurs when the only unbound water molecule is lost. At 650 °C, copper(II) sulfate decomposes into copper(II) oxide (CuO) and sulfur trioxide (SO3). Its blue color is due to water of hydration. When heated in an open flame the crystals are dehydrated and turn grayish-white. Copper sulfate reacts with concentrated hydrochloric acid. In the reaction the blue solution of copper(II) turns green, due to the formation of tetrachlorocuprate(II): Cu2+ + 4 Cl– → CuCl42– It also reacts with more reactive metals than copper (e.g. Mg, Fe, Zn, Al, Sn, Pb, etc.): CuSO4 + Zn → ZnSO 4 + CuCuSO4 + Fe → FeSO 4 + CuCuSO4 + Mg → MgSO 4 + CuCuSO4 + Sn → SnSO 4 + Cu3 CuSO4 + 2 Al → Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 + 3 Cu The copper formed is deposited on the surface of the other metal. The reaction stops when no free surface of the metal is present anymore.
 * Chemical properties **

Health Effects

 * Copper sulfate is harmful if ingested or if skin is exposed to it. It will also cause irreversible eye damage. Copper sulfate exposure causes irritation in mucous membranes and in the digestive and upper respiratory tracts. Chronic exposure to the compound by agricultural workers has shown an increase in __liver disease__. Animals with increased exposure have developed stunted growth, anorexia and anemia, followed by death. Acute human exposure has been linked vomiting, diarrhea, headaches and, in some cases, suicide. Copper sulfate is not a known carcinogen

Organic synthesis
Copper sulfate is employed in organic synthesis.[|[][|12][|]] The anhydrous salt catalyses the trans acrtylation in organic synthesis.[|[][|13][|]] The hydrated salt reacts with potassium peranganate to give an oxidant for the conversion of primary alcohols.