Spectrophotometric and thermal analytical studies on the dehydration of copper(II) sulfate and its double salts

Spectrophotometric (diffuse reflection) and TG-DTA data on the dehydration of CuSO₄ · 5H₂O, Na₂Cu(SO₄)₂ · 2H₂O, M₂Cu(SO₄)₂ · 6H₂O(M⁺ = K⁺, Rb⁺, Cs⁺ and NH⁺₄) and Co₂Cu(SO₄)₃ · 18H₂O are given. Although complete dehydration of CuSO₄ · 5H₂O brings about a striking color change from blue to white, it was found that there is only a slight decrease in the v?_max. of its d-d band in the course of this change, and the total light absorption in the visible-UV region increases at the same time. The dehydration of the alkali metal and ammonium double salts, most of which contain Cu(OH₂)₆]²⁺ aquo ions (in contrast to the Cu(OH₂)₄]²⁺ in CuSO₄ · 5H₂O), occurs generally more easily than that of CuSO₄ - 5H₂O, and their v?_max. increases slightly in the change, leading to blue or green anhydrous products, although the formation of a white modification was observed with the potassium salt. It was also found that the v?_max. of the Cu²⁺ ion in the dehydrated cobalt(II) double salt is still lower than that in anhydrous CuSO₄, i.e., the ligand field and/or tetragonality around it is decreased by the presence of Co²⁺ ions.