Chemists use symbols when writing chemical equations and formulas. Explain the difference between the following representation of the same chemical CuSO 4(s), CuSO 4 •5H2O (s), CuSO4 (aq)
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In chemical equations and formulas, chemists use symbols to represent elements, compounds, and solutions. The difference between the following representations:
1. CuSO4 (s): This symbol represents copper sulfate in its solid state. The "(s)" stands for "solid," indicating that copper sulfate exists as a solid or crystalline compound at a given temperature and pressure.
2. CuSO4 • 5H2O (s): This symbol represents copper sulfate pentahydrate in its solid state. The "•" is used to denote the presence of water molecules that are associated with the compound. In this case, copper sulfate is combined with five water molecules (pentahydrate).
3. CuSO4 (aq): This symbol represents copper sulfate in its aqueous state. The "(aq)" stands for "aqueous," indicating that copper sulfate is dissolved in water to form a solution. The ions of copper sulfate dissociate in water, forming Cu2+ and SO4^2- ions, resulting in an aqueous solution.
Overall, these different representations indicate the physical states and conditions in which copper sulfate exists – solid form, solid form with associated water molecules, and dissolved in water to form an aqueous solution.
The representations you provided are different ways to represent the same chemical compound, which is copper(II) sulfate. Now, let's break down the differences between each representation:
1. CuSO4 (s):
This representation indicates that copper(II) sulfate is in a solid state. The "(s)" notation denotes the physical state of the compound, in this case, solid.
2. CuSO4 • 5H2O (s):
This representation indicates that copper(II) sulfate is present as a hydrate, specifically a pentahydrate, which means it has water molecules attached to its structure. The "• 5H2O" notation denotes the presence of 5 water molecules associated with each unit of copper(II) sulfate. The "(s)" notation still indicates that the whole compound is in a solid state.
3. CuSO4 (aq):
This representation indicates that copper(II) sulfate is dissolved in water, forming an aqueous solution. The "(aq)" notation denotes the compound's presence in the dissolved state. In an aqueous solution, individual ions of copper, sulfate, and water molecules are dispersed throughout the solution, allowing for chemical reactions to occur.
In summary, CuSO4 (s) represents solid copper(II) sulfate, CuSO4 • 5H2O (s) represents solid copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate, and CuSO4 (aq) represents dissolved copper(II) sulfate in water.
To understand the difference between the representations CuSO4 (s), CuSO4 •5H2O (s), and CuSO4 (aq), we need to familiarize ourselves with the symbols commonly used in chemistry.
1. (s): The "(s)" stands for solid state. When a substance is denoted as (s), it means that it exists in a solid form at room temperature and pressure. In this case, CuSO4 (s) refers to the solid state of copper(II) sulfate.
2. •: The dot symbol "•" represents the presence of water molecules associated with a compound. When a number is included before the dot, it indicates the presence of a specific number of water molecules associated with a compound. In this case, CuSO4 •5H2O represents copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate, which means each unit of CuSO4 is associated with five water molecules.
3. (aq): The "(aq)" stands for aqueous solution. It indicates that the substance is dissolved in water, forming a solution. In this case, CuSO4 (aq) represents copper(II) sulfate dissolved in water.
These different representations are used to convey important information about the physical state, associated water molecules, and solubility of a chemical species. Understanding these symbols and their meanings is crucial for interpreting chemical equations and formulas accurately.