Question

Write the balanced equation for the hydration of CuSO4. Indicate the physical states using the abbreviations (s), (l), or (g) for solid, liquid, or gas, respectively. Use (aq) to indicate the aqueous phase. Indicate appropriate charges on negative and positive ions if they are formed.

Answer 1

Perhaps you are talking about the hydrolysis of the ions formed when copper(II) sulfate dissolves in water. When solid CuSO₄ dissolves Cu²⁺ ions and SO₄^2- ions are formed. Copper, being the cation of a weak base, will undergo hydrolysis, that is, a reaction with water to give a slightly acidic solution.

Simple version:

Cu²⁺(aq) + HOH(l) [CuOH]⁺(aq) + H⁺(aq)
more accurate version:
Cu²⁺(aq) + 6HOH(l) [Cu(H₂O)₅OH]⁺(aq) + H⁺(aq)
most accurate version:
Cu²⁺(aq) + 10HOH(l) [Cu(H₂O)₅OH]⁺(aq) + H₉O₄⁺(aq)

The sulfate ion, SO₄^2-, on the other hand, which is the anion of a strong acid (H2SO4), is not basic enough to react with water and so does not hydrolyze to any easily measurable extent.

Perhaps you want something that is even more simplified. Clearly, water is part of the equation when dealing with the hydrolysis of the ions.

The simplest equation you can write and exclude water would be...
CuSO₄(s) CuSO₄(aq)
A slightly more accurate version would be:
CuSO4(s) Cu²⁺(aq) + SO₄^2-(aq)

A note about writing ions in aqueous solution. When a substance has dissolved in water and ionized, we can assume a state symbol of (aq) for the ion in solution, and therefore, the (aq) is omitted from the formula of ions. Example:
CuSO4(s) Cu²⁺ + SO₄^2- ........ with the understanding that the ions are in equation solution.