Question

In solid $CuSO_{4}.5H_{2}O$ copper is co-ordinated to.

• A. Five water molecules
• B. Four water molecules
• C. One sulphate anion
• D. One water molecule

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Four water molecules

Answer 2

Four water molecules.

$CuSO_{4}.5H_{2}O$ is a crystalline salt. Four $H_{2}O$ molecules attach to copper forming a square planar symmetry and two oxygen atoms from $SO_{4}^{2 -}$ ion complete the distorted octahedron. The fifth water molecule is attached through hydrogen bonding between one of the co-ordinated water molecule and one of the sulphate ion.