Copper sulfate: construction, gardening and medicinal applications

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

Many people are familiar with the blue crystalline powder, which is sold in hardware stores. The packaging is usually written "Copper vitriol". But not everyone knows about its use in everyday life. And it affects many areas of human life. Vitriol is essential for gardeners, homemade electronics enthusiasts, builders and many others. First, let's figure out what the described substance is.

Formula

Some people, due to their inexperience, confuse blue vitriol with other means. Therefore, it is attributed properties that it does not possess. For example, contrary to popular belief, the use of copper sulfate is not able to rejuvenate garden trees or destroy pests. It has a different purpose.

This remedy is called copper sulfate II. Its chemical formula (CuSO4) consists of the following elements:

• copper (one atom);
• sulfur (one atom);
• oxygen(four atoms).

The substance in dry form is odorless, colorless or tasteless crystals. It consists of one molecule of s alt and five molecules of water. Such a substance is called copper sulfate pentahydrate. It has a bright blue color. In everyday life, it is also called copper sulphate. It is sold in ordinary plastic bags with instructions.

Methods of mining

The substance is produced in the laboratory. It can also be produced industrially, but with various impurities. In its pure form, crystals are obtained in three main ways:

Sulfuric acid with copper

A test tube with sulfuric acid is heating up. Copper is added to it. It turns out a solution of copper sulfate. The main condition for production is the heating temperature, which should not be higher than 60 degrees.

Sulfuric acid with nitric acid, copper and water

There is a distilled liquid in a test tube. Sulfuric acid and copper are placed in it. Everything heats up to 75-80 degrees. Nitric acid is gradually introduced into the mixture. The gas bubbles should stop being released, after which the copper is removed. The mixture is evaporated until a crystalline film is formed.

Copper hydroxide with sulfuric acid

Connect two components. As a result, water is formed with a precipitate in the form of crystals.

Properties

The use of copper sulfate is related to its characteristics. It is an astringent that disinfects well and has antiseptic properties. It refers to fungicides, thenthere are substances capable of fighting fungi. Vitriol does not penetrate into the treated tissues, so it is considered a contact substance. After rinsing with water, its action stops.

Many fear copper sulfate because of its toxicity. It is indeed harmful to animals. This damage is conditional. It is really dangerous only for fish that die from the slightest amount of a substance entering the water. What about a human?

Danger for people

The use of copper sulfate against fungus involves careful handling of the substance due to its toxicity. But this does not mean that you need to be afraid of every drop that falls on your hand. The fact is that only ingestion of more than one gram of vitriol can cause poisoning. It will manifest itself with the following symptoms:

• nausea;
• abdominal cramps;
• Metallic taste in the mouth.

A fatal dose for humans is considered to be more than eleven grams. But it is impossible to eat or inhale accidentally such a quantity of a substance.

Of course, keep the dangerous product away from children and pets. But the same can be said about medicines or household chemicals.

Precautions

In order for blue vitriol from mold not to harm a person, you must adhere to general safety rules:

• When working with the substance, do not consume food or drinks. This way it will not enter the digestive system even by accident.
• When working with the solution, close all parts of the body, including eyes andAirways. Goggles and a mask are suitable for this. A headdress and clothes with sleeves will not be superfluous. Hands must be in rubber gloves.
• When processing trees or premises, it is important that children and animals are not nearby. Other than workers, no one should be in the work area at all.
• The dishes that were used to breed vitriol should be disposed of. It cannot be used in everyday life.
• After working with the drug, wash your face and hands with running water and soap. Clothes must be washed immediately. You can rinse your mouth and nose. If possible, take a shower.
• Material must not be allowed to enter a body of water or water supply.
• Product must not be used after the expiration date printed on the package.
• The diluted solution can be stored for several months in a sealed glass container.
• Work should be carried out in a well-ventilated area. After they are finished, it is enough to ventilate the dwelling for twenty minutes.
• It is not allowed to work with the solution at an air temperature above 30 degrees.

If, nevertheless, a person feels signs of poisoning, it is necessary to go out into the fresh air, take off work clothes, wash your face with soap and water, rinse your throat and be sure to go to the hospital. The medical institution will prescribe a further course of action.

Where are blue crystals most often used?

In the garden

Copper in horticulturevitriol is used to kill the fungus. It destroys the protein in his cells. Mushroom spores do not have the strength to germinate, so they die. The growth of the already formed mycelium also slows down. Copper is not able to get deep into the tissues of the plant, so it cannot be damaged. However, spraying should be done after flowering.

With the help of copper sulfate it is impossible to overcome aphids and other pests. But he does an excellent job with the following tree diseases:

• leaf curl;
• coccomycosis of stone fruit trees;
• anthracnose and septoria currant and gooseberry;
• apple scab;
• moniliosis.

Trees should be processed:

• spring (before bud break);
• in autumn (after shedding leaves);
• during the growing season (as part of the Bordeaux liquid).

Copper sulfate can also be used as a top dressing. But you should know for sure that there is a lack of copper in the soil. Most often, peat-bog and some sandy soils suffer from this. But soil analysis will determine this accurately. Sometimes even green spaces themselves lack copper.

In electronics

Copper sulfate solution can be used to make circuit boards. Only it is supplemented with two parts of ordinary s alt. The resulting liquid should be very hot, although it does cool down in the process.

The workpiece is placed in the solution and waiting. There are manyoptions for etching the board with copper sulphate. It usually takes 15 to 40 minutes. Some electronics enthusiasts choose this method due to the availability of copper sulfate and the fact that the solution is easily washed off.

In construction

Copper sulfate is also used in construction. It has proven to be an effective mold killer. When plastering walls, they treat all surfaces to prevent the fungus from giving any chance.

Processing walls with copper sulphate is possible not only during construction work. It is also effective on already plastered surfaces. To combat the fungus, you will have to remove wallpaper and other decorative elements. Spatula should be used to clean the damaged plaster. After it, it would be good to clean it with a metal brush using chlorine-containing products. Then the wall is treated with a solution of blue s alt. It is better to coat the surface twice, waiting for the first layer to dry completely. You can do this with a sponge, roller, brush, using a sprayer. How to prepare the solution?

Wall Treatment

Usually warm water is mixed with the powder. 100 grams of blue crystals are poured into ten liters of water.

Dishes for breeding can be made of plastic, glass or ceramics. The use of metal containers is unacceptable, since the solution becomes ineffective due to the action of iron on copper.

Copper sulfate from mold has been used for a long time. He has proven his reliability. However, the return of the fungus in the apartment is possible. The fact is that the solution will allow you to get rid offungal colonies, but not from the cause of their appearance. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to resolve the issue of excessive dampness in the room.

In medicine

The use of copper sulfate for medicinal purposes is described in the sources of traditional medicine. The tool was known in ancient India and Greece. They were treated with eye and ear diseases, relieved inflammation from the tonsils, and healed skin diseases.

Today it is used in informal medicine to treat the following ailments:

• diabetes;
• fungus on nails and skin;
• cervical erosion;
• sciatica.

All these methods are quite controversial, because their effectiveness has not been studied. In any case, before using them, be sure to consult a doctor. Only a specialist can make a correct diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Candles

Copper sulfate is used to make candles. He attracted their producers with his beautiful rich color. During the manufacture of candles, a little dry copper sulfate is added to the base material. Manufacturers have calculated the concentration of this substance that is not hazardous to he alth. Candles are unusually sky-colored.

Producers have noticed that the flame changes its color. It turns blue. A similar candle can be made at home. To do this, you need to take an ordinary candle, melt it, keeping the wick. Add a little vitriol to the melted mass. After that, you need to create a new candle,using an old wick.

One Chinese company got so carried away with creating candles with unusual flames that they began to produce them not only for domestic purposes, but also for birthday cakes.

Candle flames can be made in different colors, for example, by adding the following substances:

• potassium chloride - fire turns purple;
• strontium chloride - the flame will turn bright red;
• lithium chloride - the candle will light up crimson;
• magnesium sulfate will give a white flame.

The disadvantage of such products is their rapid use. In order for the flame to show its unusual color, the candle must warm up, so you will have to wait one or two minutes.

Copper sulfate is a fairly popular remedy. Its use by man dates back more than one century. Of course, it cannot be considered a panacea for all sores and problems, but many residents of damp apartments can appreciate its help in everyday life. Especially relevant is the use of copper sulfate in construction and gardening.