What is the Difference Between CuSO4 (s) and CuSO4 (aq)?

The main difference between CuSO4 (s) and CuSO4 (aq) lies in their physical states and the number of water molecules associated with the copper sulfate molecules.

• CuSO4 (s): This is the solid form of copper sulfate, which can be found in various molecular formulas, with the most common being the pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O). In this form, copper sulfate has a bright blue color and an attractive crystal structure. The molar mass of the solid pentahydrate is 249.70 g/mol. Solid copper sulfate readily dissolves in water to produce an aqueous solution.
• CuSO4 (aq): This is the aqueous form of copper sulfate, which is a blue color solution. In this form, copper sulfate has six water molecules that form complexes with copper ions. The water molecules can be weakly bonded to the copper ions and can be broken by heating.

In summary, CuSO4 (s) represents solid copper sulfate, most commonly found as the pentahydrate, while CuSO4 (aq) represents copper sulfate in an aqueous medium, with six water molecules complexed with the copper ions.

Comparative Table: CuSO4 (s) vs CuSO4 (aq)

The difference between CuSO4(s) and CuSO4(aq) lies in their physical states and the number of water molecules associated with the copper sulfate compound. Here is a table comparing the two:

• CuSO4(s) is the solid form of copper sulfate, most commonly found as the pentahydrate (CuSO4·5H2O), which has a bright blue color and an attractive crystal structure.
• CuSO4(aq) is the aqueous solution of copper sulfate, which can have a varying number of water molecules associated with it, depending on the specific hydration level. In an aqueous copper sulfate solution, there are six water molecules that form complexes with copper ions.