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How to Make a Supersaturated Solution of Copper Sulfate

Copper sulfate is formed by the reaction of copper and sulfuric acid. The resulting solution is blue in color and when supersaturated, forms blue salt crystals. The blue color is used in dyes and stains quite easily. Copper sulfate is also highly toxic, so care should be taken to avoid contact with skin and eyes. It should also be used in a well-ventilated area. The pretty blue crystals formed from the solution make copper sulfate experiments popular in classrooms.

Things You'll Need

Glass beaker
Copper sulfate
Plastic spoon
Distilled water

Instructions

- 1
  Warm your water in a glass beaker but do not boil. The higher temperature causes the copper sulfate to be more easily soluble.
- 2
  Stir about 25 mg of copper sulfate into the water. Add more copper sulfate a little at a time until it no longer dissolves.
- 3
  Cool the beaker to room temperature, or in a refrigerator for quicker results. As the water cools, crystals will form and drop to the bottom of the beaker. Once this happens, the solution is no longer supersaturated.
- 4
  Pour the solution through a strainer into another glass beaker to remove the crystals. The crystals can be used as seeds for new crystals and the saturated solution in the beaker can be reused to make a new supersaturated solution.

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