1. Dehydration:
* The crystals lose their water of crystallization, which is responsible for their blue color.
* The water molecules are driven off as steam.
* The crystals turn from blue to white.
2. Chemical Change:
* The anhydrous copper sulfate (CuSO4) that remains is white and powdery.
* The chemical formula for the reaction is:
CuSO4·5H2O (blue crystals) → CuSO4 (white powder) + 5H2O (steam)
3. Reversibility:
* This process is reversible. If you add water to the white anhydrous copper sulfate, it will reabsorb the water and turn blue again.
Here's a summary of the changes:
* Color: Blue to White
* Physical State: Solid to Solid and Gas
* Chemical Change: Water of crystallization is lost.
Note: The heating process should be done carefully, as copper sulfate can release toxic fumes at higher temperatures.
