Production and Reactivity
Zinc sulfate is produced by treating zinc with aqueous sulfuric acid:
- Zn + H2SO4 + 7 H2O → ZnSO4(H2O)7 + H2
Pharmaceutical grade zinc sulfate is produced from high purity zinc oxide:
- ZnO + H2SO4 + 6 H2O → ZnSO4(H2O)7
In the laboratory, it can also be prepared by adding solid zinc to a copper(II) sulfate solution:
- Zn + CuSO4 → ZnSO4 + Cu
In aqueous solution, all forms of zinc sulfate behave identically. These aqueous solutions consist of the metal aquo complex 2+ and SO42- ions. Barium sulfate forms when these solutions are treated with solutions of barium ions:
- ZnSO4 + BaCl2 → BaSO4 + ZnCl2
With a reduction potential of -0.76, zinc(II) reduces only with difficulty.
When heated over 680 C, zinc sulfate decomposes into sulfur dioxide gas and zinc oxide fume, both of which are hazardous.
Read more about this topic: Zinc Sulfate
Famous quotes containing the words production and and/or production:
“Production and consumption are the nipples of modern society. Thus suckled, humanity grows in strength and beauty; rising standard of living, all modern conveniences, distractions of all kinds, culture for all, the comfort of your dreams.”
—Raoul Vaneigem (b. 1934)
“In the production of the necessaries of life Nature is ready enough to assist man.”
—Henry David Thoreau (18171862)