When copper sulfate (CuSO₄) reacts with sodium hydroxide (NaOH), it forms copper(II) hydroxide (Cu(OH)₂) and sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄).
The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:
CuSO4(aq)+2NaOH(aq)→Cu(OH)2(s)+Na2SO4(aq)
In this reaction:
- Copper sulfate (CuSO₄) is dissolved in water.
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is also in solution.
- Copper(II) hydroxide (Cu(OH)₂) precipitates as a blue solid.
- Sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄) remains in solution.
This is an example of a double displacement reaction, where the copper ions (Cu²⁺) combine with hydroxide ions (OH⁻) to form a precipitate of copper(II) hydroxide.