
Content Curator
Cobalt II Sulphate is a colourless, odourless solid with a rose-pink hue. It both mixes with and sinks in water. Furthermore, it is a poisonous metallic salt in nature. Cobalt II sulphate is used in a variety of electrochemical sectors. The eyes, skin, and respiratory tract may be irritated because of exposure to this salt.
| Table of Content |
Key Takeaways: Inorganic Compound, Molecular Formula, Sulfuric Acid, Electroplating, Ores, Carcinogenicity
Cobalt II Sulphate Formula
[Click Here for Sample Questions]
Cobalt II sulphate formula is denoted as CoSO4. It contains cobalt and sulphate ions and cobalt in its +2 oxidation state. The structure of the cobalt II sulphate formula is given below.

CoSO4 Formula
Derivation of Cobalt II Sulphate Formula
An inorganic compound is cobalt II sulphate. In addition, this substance is insoluble in ammonia. It is used as a colouring ingredient, a drier in inks and paints, and a supplement for Vitamin B12 deficiency, among other things.
Cobalt II sulphate has the chemical or molecular formula CoSO4.(H2O)7. Cobalt sulphate is usually denoted by the hydrate CoSO4.7H2O. This hydrate is one of the most prevalent cobalt salts on the market.

Cobalt II sulphate
Also Read: Writing Chemical Formulae
Preparation of Cobalt II Sulphate
The interaction of metallic oxide, its oxide, carbonate, or hydroxide with sulfuric acid in an aqueous condition produces cobalt II sulphate.
Co + H2SO2 + 7 H2O → CoSO4(H2O)7 + H2
CoO + H2SO4 + 6 H2O → CoSO4(H2O)7
Properties of Cobalt II Sulphate
The odorless nature of cobalt II sulphate is a plus. Its physical appearance is rose-pink in hue. The melting point of cobalt II sulphate is 735 degrees Celsius. Furthermore, at a temperature of 20 °C, its solubility in water is 330 g/l.
In addition, in boiling water, this inorganic substance dissolves slowly. At 18 °C, it dissolves in methanol with a solubility of 1.04 g/100 ml. In addition, cobalt II sulphate is water insoluble.
At 25 °C/4 °C, cobalt II sulphate has a stability of 3.71. Furthermore, at 708 °C, this inorganic is stable. Cobalt II sulphate decomposes when exposed to heat. Furthermore, when it decomposes, it releases harmful SOx vapours. When heated to 735°C, cobalt II sulphate decomposes.
This disintegration causes an interaction between dust and powerful oxidants. This unquestionably raises the risk of fire and explosion. In addition, cobalt II sulphate contains a moderate proportion of hydrogen ions. The pH value of cobalt II sulphate is less than 7.0. The evaporation of cobalt II sulphate is insignificant at 20°C.
Things to Remember
- Any inorganic chemical having the formula CoSO4(H2O)x is cobalt(II) sulphate. The hexa- or heptahydrates CoSO4.6H2O or CoSO4.7H2O are usually referred to as cobalt sulphate.
- Cobalt II sulphate is formed when metallic oxide, its oxide, carbonate, or hydroxide reacts with sulfuric acid in an aqueous solution.
- Cobalt sulphates are key intermediates in the cobalt extraction process. Sulfuric acid is used to treat crushed, partly refined ores, resulting in red-coloured solutions containing cobalt sulphate. The heptahydrate is a common source of cobalt in coordination chemistry since it is commercially available.
- Cobalt is a necessary mineral for mammals, although it is toxic in amounts more than a few micrograms per day. Cobalt compounds have seldom produced poisonings, but chronic intake has caused major health issues at dosages well below the fatal threshold.
Sample Questions
Ques: Is cobalt II sulfate a molecular or an ionic compound? (2 marks)
Ans: Cobalt(II) sulphate is a chemical compound that is also known as cobaltous sulphate. CoSO4 is its chemical formula. Cobalt in the +2-oxidation state is present. It has cobalt and sulphate ions in it.
Ques: What is the purpose of cobalt sulphate heptahydrate? (2 marks)
Ans: Cobalt(II) sulphate heptahydrate is used to make pigments and cobalt salts, which are utilised in porcelain and glass. It is used in storing batteries and electroplating baths. It is also used in sympathetic inks and as an additive in soil and animal feeds.
Ques: Is cobalt sulphate water soluble? (2 marks)
Ans: Cobalt Sulphate is a sulphate-compatible Cobalt source that is water and acid-soluble. Sulphate compounds are sulfuric acid salts or esters where one or both hydrogens are replaced by a metal.
Ques: Lead sulphate is made up of cobalt sulphate and lead nitrate. What causes this, and how does it happen? (5 marks)
Ans: A twofold displacement reaction is the interaction of cobalt sulphate with lead nitrate.
CoSO4+Pb(NO3)2→PbSO4+Co(NO3)2
Double displacement reactions are chemical reactions in which both reacting molecules' ionic species are swapped to generate the products. The cations and anions of two distinct compounds swap positions throughout the reaction, resulting in two completely new molecules.
The solubility of the reactant and the product
- CoSO4 is a dark red colour solution that is soluble in water.
- Pb(NO3)2 has a colourless solution and is soluble in water.
- PbSO4 is water insoluble and forms a white precipitate.
- Co(NO3)2 is likewise water soluble and creates a red-coloured solution.
Because all other chemicals except PbSO4 are soluble in water, the quantity of white precipitate in the vessel increases when cobalt sulphate and lead nitrate mix to create lead sulphate.
We also know that for A+B+C+D, Reaction quotient (Q) = [C][D]/[A][B]. For each reaction, the reaction quotient always remains constant.
Because the concentration of any chemical in a reaction is considered when it is in an aqueous or gaseous form, it is treated as 1 when it is in a solid state. As we can see, PbSO4 is a precipitate, hence its active mass will always be 1 because it is solid.
We now know that if Q < K, the reaction will constantly proceed forward to achieve equilibrium.
As a result, as the concentration of PbSO4 lowers because of precipitation, the value of Q decreases as well, and the character of the reaction remains forward.
Hence, CoSO4+Pb(NO3)2→PbSO4+Co(NO3)2 is the product.
Ques: How is cobalt II sulphate used for? (2 marks)
Ans: Cobalt II sulphate is often used in batteries. Cobalt II sulphate is frequently utilised in battery cathodes, in electric car storage batteries (EV). It is also a key component in the production of Lithium-ion (Li-ion) rechargeable batteries.
Ques: Comment on how an aqueous solution of Cobalt(II) Sulphate turns paramagnetic from diamagnetic when a substantial amount of fluoride ion is introduced. (3 marks)
Ans: Cobalt is +3, therefore it is d6, and it is diamagnetic in the low-spin form and paramagnetic in the high-spin form, with 4 u.p.e. The consequence of this experiment is that water in the aqua ion has sufficient field strength to induce low spin. But when the water is displaced by fluoride, the fluoride's lower ligand field strength leads o to shrink, resulting in a high-spin state. Water does not rank extremely high in the spectrochemical series, but it is high enough for cobalt +3 to have a low spin.
Ques: What is the other name of Cobalt II Sulphate? (1 mark)
Ans: Cobalt II Sulphate (CoSO4.(H2O)7) is also known as Red Vitriol.
Ques: Write the reaction of aluminium metal with cobalt II sulphate. (2 marks)
Ans: The reaction will be as follows.
2Al + 3CoSO4 → Al2(SO4)3 + 3Co
Aluminium + Cobalt(II) Sulphate = Millosevichite + Cobalt
Ques: What is cobalt II sulphate’s charge? (1 mark)
Ans: Cobalt(2+) sulphate is a cobalt-sulphate compound with a 1:1 ratio of cobalt (+2 oxidation state) to sulphate. It has cobalt(2+) content.
Also Read:






Comments