2631. Cupric Carbonate, Basic

Nomenclature

CAS number: 12069-69-1
μ-[Carbonato(2-)-κO:κO′]dihydroxydicopper; copper carbonate hydroxide; cupric subcarbonate; Bremen blue; Bremen green.
CH2Cu2O5; mol wt 221.12.
C 5.43%, H 0.91%, Cu 57.48%, O 36.18%.
CuCO3.Cu(OH)2.

Description and references

Occurs in nature as the mineral malachite (dark green monoclinic crystals). Prepd by adding CuSO4 soln to Na2CO3 soln: Winter et al., in Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology vol. 6 (Interscience, New York, 2nd ed., 1965) p 270. The commercial product usually contains 50-55% Cu.

Properties

Green to blue amorphous powder or dark-green monoclinic crystals. Practically insol in water, alcohol; sol in dil acids, ammonia.

Note

Another form of basic copper carbonate, 2CuCO3.Cu(OH)2, occurs in nature as the mineral azurite or chessylite. See also Burgundy Mixture.

Use

As seed treatment fungicide; in pyrotechnics; as paint and varnish pigment; in animal and poultry feeds; in sweetening of petrol sour crude stock; in manuf of other Cu salts.

Therapeutic Category (Veterinary)

Nutritional factor. Used in copper deficiency in ruminants.