Copper sulfate pentahydrate in the yard and garden
Elevated risk for your yardNot medical, veterinary, or professional safety advice, and not a substitute for a qualified professional — consult one. Full disclaimer →
Copper sulfate pentahydrate is the most common commercial hydrated form of copper(II) sulfate (distinct from the anhydrous form catalogued as hq-c-ino-000073). Used as an aquarium ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and external parasite treatment at carefully metered doses (typically 0.15-0.20 mg/L free Cu²⁺), as an algicide in ponds and reservoirs (legal, regulated), as a fungicide in vineyards (Bordeaux mixture, with hydrated lime), and as a feed micronutrient. Acutely toxic to invertebrate aquatic life — kills snails, shrimp, and most freshwater invertebrates at therapeutic fish doses. Chronically toxic to scaleless fish (catfish, loaches, tetras with thin scales) at standard doses; species-specific dose adjustment required. Wilson's disease patients are extremely vulnerable — hepatic copper accumulation. Acute oral ingestion: vomiting (cuproprotectant emetic effect), gastritis, hemolytic anemia, hepatotoxicity at large doses; fatal at ~10-20 g for adults. Aqueous solutions are corrosive to copper-incompatible metals (galvanized iron, aluminum). Bordeaux-mixture vineyard residues are an established environmental contamination concern in wine-growing regions; soil copper accumulation persists for decades.
What is copper sulfate pentahydrate?
The IUPAC name is copper(2+) sulfate pentahydrate.
Also known as: Cupric sulfate pentahydrate, Blue vitriol, Bluestone, Roman vitriol.
- IUPAC name
- copper(2+) sulfate pentahydrate
- CAS number
- 7758-99-8
- Molecular formula
- CuO9S.5H2O
- Molecular weight
- 249.69 g/mol
- SMILES
- [Cu+2].[O-]S(=O)(=O)[O-].O.O.O.O.O
- PubChem CID
- 24463
Risk for people, pets,
Elevated riskCopper sulfate pentahydrate is the most common commercial hydrated form of copper(II) sulfate (distinct from the anhydrous form catalogued as hq-c-ino-000073). Used as an aquarium ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and external parasite treatment at carefully metered doses (typically 0.15-0.20 mg/L free Cu²⁺), as an algicide in ponds and reservoirs (legal, regulated), as a fungicide in vineyards (Bordeaux mixture, with hydrated lime), and as a feed micronutrient. Acutely toxic to invertebrate aquatic life — kills snails, shrimp, and most freshwater invertebrates at therapeutic fish doses. Chronically toxic to scaleless fish (catfish, loaches, tetras with thin scales) at standard doses; species-specific dose adjustment required. Wilson's disease patients are extremely vulnerable — hepatic copper accumulation. Acute oral ingestion: vomiting (cuproprotectant emetic effect), gastritis, hemolytic anemia, hepatotoxicity at large doses; fatal at ~10-20 g for adults. Aqueous solutions are corrosive to copper-incompatible metals (galvanized iron, aluminum). Bordeaux-mixture vineyard residues are an established environmental contamination concern in wine-growing regions; soil copper accumulation persists for decades.
Regulatory consensus
1 regulatory bodyhas classified Copper sulfate pentahydrate.
| Agency | Year | Classification | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unknown | — | — |
Regulators apply different standards of evidence — animal-data weighting, exposure-pattern assumptions, epidemiological power thresholds — which is why two scientific bodies can review the same data and reach different conclusions. The disagreement is the data.
Where your yard encounter copper sulfate pentahydrate
- Aquarium Water Treatment
- Agricultural Fungicide
- Algicide
- Animal Feed
Frequently asked questions
Is copper sulfate pentahydrate safe for your yard?
Copper sulfate pentahydrate is the most common commercial hydrated form of copper(II) sulfate (distinct from the anhydrous form catalogued as hq-c-ino-000073). Used as an aquarium ich (Ichthyophthirius multifiliis) and external parasite treatment at carefully metered doses (typically 0.15-0.20 mg/L free Cu²⁺), as an algicide in ponds and reservoirs (legal, regulated), as a fungicide in vineyards (Bordeaux mixture, with hydrated lime), and as a feed micronutrient. Acutely toxic to invertebrate aquatic life — kills snails, shrimp, and most freshwater invertebrates at therapeutic fish doses. Chronically toxic to scaleless fish (catfish, loaches, tetras with thin scales) at standard doses; species-specific dose adjustment required. Wilson's disease patients are extremely vulnerable — hepatic copper accumulation. Acute oral ingestion: vomiting (cuproprotectant emetic effect), gastritis, hemolytic anemia, hepatotoxicity at large doses; fatal at ~10-20 g for adults. Aqueous solutions are corrosive to copper-incompatible metals (galvanized iron, aluminum). Bordeaux-mixture vineyard residues are an established environmental contamination concern in wine-growing regions; soil copper accumulation persists for decades.
See Copper sulfate pentahydrate in the outdoor app
Look up products containing copper sulfate pentahydrate, compare to alternatives, and explore the full data record.
Open in outdoor View raw API dataSources (2)
- PubChem (2026) — database
- ALETHEIA Phase 62 compound mini-batch — Phase 54/55 product prerequisites (continuation of Phase 59) (2026) — batch_creation
Reference data, not professional advice. Aggregates publicly available regulatory and scientific data; not a substitute for veterinary, medical, legal, or regulatory advice. Why we built ALETHEIA →