Cupric Sulfate
Definition: Cupric sulfate is a chemical compound that contains copper and sulfur. It is formed when sulfuric acid reacts with copper oxide. In simpler terms, you can think of it as a blue salt that has copper in it.
Usage: Cupric sulfate is used in various fields, including agriculture, chemistry, and even in some household products. It is often used as a fungicide (to kill fungi), in laboratories for experiments, and in the manufacture of certain materials.
Example Sentence: "Farmers sometimes use cupric sulfate to help protect their crops from diseases."
Advanced Usage: In more scientific contexts, cupric sulfate is often referred to by its chemical formula, which is CuSO₄. It can also exist in different forms, such as pentahydrate (CuSO₄·5H₂O), which means it contains water molecules and is often found as blue crystals.
Word Variants: - Cupric: This term refers to the +2 oxidation state of copper, which is the form found in cupric sulfate. - Sulfate: This term refers to a specific ion (SO₄²⁻) that is part of many compounds, including cupric sulfate.
Different Meanings: - While cupric sulfate specifically refers to the compound made from copper and sulfur, "sulfate" on its own can refer to any salt or ester of sulfuric acid.
Synonyms: - Copper(II) sulfate (another way to refer to cupric sulfate). - Blue vitriol (an older name for the same compound, often used in more traditional contexts).
Idioms and Phrasal Verbs: - There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs directly related to "cupric sulfate." However, in scientific discussions, one might say "react with" (as in "copper oxide reacts with sulfuric acid to form cupric sulfate").
In summary, cupric sulfate is a copper salt primarily used in agriculture and chemistry.