the cause of toxicity
2007-04-13 07:28:42 · 2 answers · asked by just me 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Copper Sulfate + ammonium sulfate
Copper (II) compounds are toxic to humans - they make excellent pesticides - they de-colerate(?) pests by dissolving the cell membranes, which means the organism "falls" apart
Alum, aluminium potassium sulfate, is another double salt - double salts consist of two pure compounds crystallised into a symetric infinite network lattice of uniform construction
In the case of alum, the ratio is 1:1 aluminium sulphate Al2(SO4)3 : K2SO4 with 24H2O waters of crystalisation (or is it 12 - failing memory from 30 years ago) i.e. 1:1:24
Being a double salt does not necessarily make the compound toxic. Alum is used to settle colloids and suspensions in water supplies, making it softer. It may well be in your water supply....
2007-04-17 00:48:20 · answer #1 · answered by big_george 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ammonium copper sulphate consists of the NH4+ and Cu2+ ions which ppt with the SO4(2-) ion, thus forming a double salt. It is toxic since it can link with hemoglobin.
2007-04-14 02:45:31 · answer #2 · answered by ag_iitkgp 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋