What is the Difference Between Hydrated and Anhydrous Copper Sulphate?

The main difference between hydrated and anhydrous copper sulfate lies in their appearance and water content. Here are the key differences:

• Hydrated Copper Sulfate:
• Contains water molecules associated with copper sulfate.
• Most common hydrated form is the pentahydrated form, represented by the chemical formula CuSO₄·5H₂O.
• Hydrated copper sulfate appears in a bright blue color.
• Anhydrous Copper Sulfate:
• Free from water molecules.
• Appears as a white powder.
• The anhydrous form can be obtained by heating hydrated copper sulfate, which causes the water to evaporate.

Both anhydrous and hydrated copper sulfate will dissolve in water to produce the same blue-colored solution. However, the hydrated and anhydrous forms have different properties, such as color and water content, which can affect their appearance and behavior in certain processes or applications.

Comparative Table: Hydrated vs Anhydrous Copper Sulphate

Here is a table comparing the differences between hydrated and anhydrous copper sulfate:

Hydrated copper sulfate appears as a bright blue crystal, with the chemical formula $CuSO4\cdot5H2O$. It contains 5 water molecules associated with the copper sulfate. When hydrated copper sulfate is heated, the water molecules are removed, leading to the formation of anhydrous copper sulfate, which appears as a white powder with the chemical formula $CuSO_4$. The anhydrous form does not contain any fixed number of water molecules.