In: Chemistry
Why is copper sulfate (CuSO4 ) not commonly found as a naturally-occurring copper ore mineral, even though it is easily made during leaching of other copper minerals?
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Copper sulfate (CuSO4 ) not commonly found as a naturally-occurring copper ore mineral, even though it is easily made during leaching of other copper minerals because naturally only those substances exist as ores which are stable in the atmospheric conditions. Since, in nature the abundance of free oxygen, the formation of copper oxide is favoured. But Copper in +2 oxidation state is soft acid and has tendency to bind with soft bases sulphur, therefore many of the copper ores exist as sulphide ores too. On the other hand, the formation of copper sulphate from copper sulphite required oxidation of the copper salt which is difficult since free oxygen is not available in crust. Moreover, in lab copper is treated with sulphuric acid to get copper sulphate but inside earth crust, sulphate ions donot exist as such.
Therefore, copper sulfate (CuSO4 ) not commonly found as a naturally-occurring copper ore mineral.
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