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Copper Compounds

In addition to their many uses in agriculture and biology, copper salts have an astonishing variety of industrial uses, chiefly of a specialised nature, and there is hardly an industry which does not have some small use for them. The following pages briefly describe a few of the more important copper compounds and list some of their uses with particular reference to copper sulphate.

It is worth noting that copper is an indispensable constituent of all living tissues and is essential for the normal growth and well being of plants and animals. Where it is lacking it has to be supplied. The minute quantities of copper needed for human health are usually obtained through the normal intake of food and water.

Copper and its compounds are not toxic like some other metals, such as lead or mercury. There are no records of any occupational diseases attributable to copper among people who have worked for many years with the metal or its salts. Indeed it has sometimes been said that such people often appear healthier and generally suffer less from colds and other ailments. Copper bangles and other adornments are reputed to relieve and prevent rheumatic pains. Copper water storage vessels, copper kettles and copper cooking pans have been used for generations.

General Uses
To trace the history of copper compounds it would be necessary to go back much further than the fourth millennium BC.
Agricultural Uses
Copper compounds have their most extensive employment in agriculture where the first recorded use was in 1761
Copper Sulphate
Copper sulphate, blue stone, blue vitriol are all common names.
Copper Sulfate's Role in Agriculture
Copper sulphate has many agricultural uses but the following are the more important ones.
Other Copper Compounds
Basic copper acetate (verdigris) was at one time made in France
Table A: Uses of Copper Sulphate
Uses of copper sulphate
Table B: Copper Fungicides
Plant diseases amenable to control by copper fungicides.