ampakine - 1-5-2011 at 07:12
I've heard on numerous occasions the blue colour of copper sulphate pentahydrate being explained by water molecules being trapped inside the lattice
of copper sulphate but is that really whats going on or is the copper coordinating those water molecules?
Mixell - 1-5-2011 at 07:31
In aqueous solutions the color is due to the Cu(H2O)6 2+ complex, with water molecules as ligands.
So I think that also in the solid form its something of that sort, a coordination complex, if I'm not mistaken of-course.
woelen - 1-5-2011 at 08:47
Yes, the solid also is a coordination compound. Four molecules of water are coordinated around the copper ion and one molecule of water forms some
kind of bridge between the sulfate ions, but I do not know the exact details by heart.