How to Make Copper Sulfate

How to Make Copper Sulfate Copper sulfate crystals are among the most beautiful crystals you can grow, but you might not have access to a chemistry lab or want to order the copper sulfate from a chemical supply company. Thats okay because you can make copper sulfate yourself using readily-available materials. Materials for Making Copper Sulfate There are a few different ways you can make copper sulfate yourself. This method relies on a little electrochemistry to get the job done. You will need: copper wire- which is high purity coppersulfuric acid- H2SO4- battery acidwater6-volt battery Make Copper Sulfate Fill a jar or beaker with 5 ml concentrated sulfuric acid and 30 ml of water. If your sulfuric acid solution is already diluted, add less water.Set two copper wires into the solution so that they are not touching each other.Connect the wires to a 6-volt battery.The solution will turn blue as copper sulfate is produced. When you run electricity through copper electrodes which are separated from each other in a dilute sulfuric acid bath the negative electrode will evolve bubbles of hydrogen gas while the positive electrode will be dissolved into the sulfuric acid and oxidized by the current. Some of the copper from the positive electrode will make its way to the anode where it will be reduced. This cuts into your copper sulfate yield, but you can minimize the loss by taking some care with your set-up. Coil the wire for the positive electrode and set it at the bottom of your beaker or jar. Slip a piece of plastic tubing (e.g., a small length of aquarium hose) over the wire where it extends up from the coil to keep it from reacting with the solution near the anode. (If you had to strip your wire, leave the insulating coating on the part that runs down into the liquid). Suspend the negative copper electrode (anode) over the cathode coil, leaving a good amount of space. When you connect the battery, you should get bubbles from the anode, but not the cathode. If you get bubbling at both electrodes, try increasing the distance between the electrodes. Most of the copper sulfate will be at the bottom of the container, separated from the anode. Collect Your Copper Sulfate You can boil the copper sulfate solution to recover your copper sulfate. Because the solution contains sulfuric acid, you wont be able to boil the liquid off completely (and you need to take care not to touch the liquid, which will become concentrated acid). The copper sulfate will precipitate out as a blue powder. Pour off the sulfuric acid and reuse it to make more copper sulfate! If you would prefer to have copper sulfate crystals, you can grow them directly from the blue solution that you prepared. Just allow the solution to evaporate. Again, use care in recovering your crystals because the solution is very acidic.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Graduate Study

Advantages and Disadvantages of Online Graduate Study Distance learning can be very convenient, but what about when it comes to graduate school? What are the online education advantages and disadvantages when it comes to getting a master or doctorate degree online? Is it better to attend graduate school traditionally? Does the online experience take away from your ability to gain valuable hands-on experience or networking experience? Online education is more common than ever. In fact, many educators and policymakers view online education as the wave of the future. There are also plenty of technology advancements, as well as hybrid in-person  and online programs, that allow students to learn in a hands-on way. Is an online graduate degree program right for you? Consider the pros and cons of an online graduate program before you choose one. Advantages Accessibility: Attend online classes from anywhere. This is great because many graduate school students hold down full-time jobs in addition to studying. Not having to rush to class on a busy workday or a relaxing weekend day can be a perk.Flexibility: Work on classwork when it makes sense for you, as you are not tied to a class schedule  in most cases.Interpersonal Breadth: Your peers will include students all over the country and even the world. This is also a great advantage for networking purposes.Cost: An online education does not require that you relocate to a new place or that you stop working full time.  Documentation: Documents, transcripts, live discussions, and training materials are all archived and recorded so that they can be retrieved via mail, e-mail or the schools website for reading, downloading and printing at any time.  Access: Instructors are available, respond quickly through email and generally are prepared to work with diverse students with a range of lifestyles and needs. Disadvantages   Employment:  If you attend an institution that is entirely online, you may find that you have to discuss the validity of your degree. Some people may not view a completely online program as being as authentic as a traditional or hybrid program. Information about the schools accreditation can convince employers of the programs validity.Communications: Most of your communication will be through email, which may not be the most effective method if you or the professor are better in person. You might miss the sound of an instructor or peers voice if there are no audio sessions.Courses: Not all courses of study are easily available online. If youre interested in a more unusual field, you may have difficulty finding a source for a complete online education.In-person responsibilities:  Hybrid programs in which you attend some classes in person, or do some projects in person, are valuable but the time needed to commute to school or participate in them can detract from work or family resp onsibilities.