Blue vitriol is an archaic name for which chemical compound?
Copper (II) sulfate, also known as cupric sulfate or copper sulphate, is an inorganic compound with the chemical 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 (CuSO4·5H2O), the most commonly encountered salt, is bright blue. Copper (II) sulfate exothermically 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".
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9 Comments
Donald McBurney
never heard it called blue vitriol as vitriol is an old term to describe acids.blue copper sulphate was used to treat crabs.
garysretired
George Oliver Prince, GOP!!!
hector tubens
Guessed wrong but always like to read information about elements and compounds.
George Oliver Prince
WAG, but learned something
Joseph A. Robitaille
Close but wrong answer.
Rob Farr
A good science-based trivia question and explanation ... well done.
Ian Swindale
What I know about chemical elements could be written on the point of a pin but I couldn't fine copper sulfate in the table
Sergey Boev
Copper sulfate is used to spray vineyards and some fruit trees to prevent mold and fungus. Dissolves in water along with lime and produces the so-called "Bordeaux mixture".
Sarah Hearn-vonFoerster
We had a great lady chemistry teacher in High School. Tough, too, except when something blew up...sent her into gales of laughter . She made us all laugh and try harder.