Crystallisation Copper Sulphate

EXPERIMENTAL RECORD, CRYSTALLISATION OF COPPER SULPHATE

STEP BY STEP, COPPER SULPHATE CRYSTALS

Let's see how to make Copper Sulphate crystals. With these quantities you will be able to make many depending on which beakers you are going to add the solution in, or if you use a larger one you will be able to make a single crystal but of a bigger size. The crystallisation of copper sulphate requires 2 parts:

• Creating a seed
• Growing the crystal on the Seed

      MATERIALS

• 1kg Copper Sulphate. You can see it in Alquera.com
• Distilled Water. Available in Alquera.com
• Glass rod. Available in Alquera.com
• Fishing Thread
• Petri dishes. You can see it in Alquera.com
• Beaker. (Available at Alquera.com) You can use kitchen or laboratory beakers.

STEP 1. CREATE COPPER SULPHATE SEED

• To create the Copper Sulphate seed, it is necessary to use 100ml of water and 75gr of Copper Sulphate. Prepare the mixture, heat it well and transfer part of the solution to a Petri dish and leave it to stand for 1 day.
• The next day, we will see how the seeds have formed.

STEP 2. CREATE COPPER SULPHATE CRYSTAL

• Prepare a new solution with 200ml of distilled water and 150g of copper sulphate. Heat the solution, mix well and transfer it to a beaker.
• On the other hand, we prepare the seed with a fishing line and with the help of a rod or similar we introduce it into the solution. After 24 hours we can see how we have obtained a small crystal attached to our seed. We will continue to make it grow.

STEP 3. GROW THE CRYSTAL

• Remove the glass and add 100ml of distilled water and 75g of copper sulphate to the leftover solution. Transfer it to the saucepan, heat and dissolve it, and return it to the glass.
• We introduce the crystal in this solution so that the crystal continues to form. After 24 hours we can see how the crystal has continued to grow.
• If you want a larger crystal, you can keep repeating this process (add Copper Sulphate, water and heat) until you get the crystal size you want.

TECHNICAL EXPLANATION

Crystallisation is the process by which crystals are created from a powdered element. The basis of crystallisation is the greater solubility of an element at a higher temperature than at a lower temperature. Therefore, at a higher temperature, a greater amount of solvent can be dissolved.

As it cools, the slower the better, the solubility of the sulphate decreases and a crystal will form around the wire.

Since the crystal is formed by precipitation in a supersaturated solution, in order for the crystal to continue to grow, the crystal simply needs to be placed in another hot, supersaturated solution. As it cools, the crystal will continue to grow.