Cupric nitrate trihydrate
[CAS# 10031-43-3]

Identification

• Classification: Inorganic chemical industry >> Inorganic salt >> Metal nitrates and nitrites
• Name: Cupric nitrate trihydrate
• Synonyms: Copper(II) nitrate trihydrate
• Molecular Formula: Cu(NO₃)₂.3(H₂O)
• Molecular Weight: 241.60
• CAS Registry Number: 10031-43-3
• EC Number: 600-060-3
• SMILES: [N+](=O)([O-])[O-].[N+](=O)([O-])[O-].O.O.O.[Cu+2]

Properties

• Melting point: 114 °C
• Water solubility: soluble

Safety Data

• Hazard Symbols: GHS03;GHS05;GHS07;GHS09 Danger
• Risk Statements: H272-H302-H314-H315-H318-H319-H400-H410-H411
• Safety Statements: P210-P220-P260-P264-P264+P265-P270-P273-P280-P301+P317-P301+P330+P331-P302+P352-P302+P361+P354-P304+P340-P305+P351+P338-P305+P354+P338-P316-P317-P321-P330-P332+P317-P337+P317-P362+P364-P363-P370+P378-P391-P405-P501

Hazard Classification

Hazard	Class	Category Code	Hazard Statement
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H302
Acute hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Acute	1	H400
Skin irritation	Skin Irrit.	2	H315
Oxidising solids	Ox. Sol.	2	H272
Serious eye damage	Eye Dam.	1	H318
Eye irritation	Eye Irrit.	2	H319
Chronic hazardous to the aquatic environment	Aquatic Chronic	1	H410
Skin corrosion	Skin Corr.	1	H314
Specific target organ toxicity - single exposure	STOT SE	3	H335
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H332
Oxidising solids	Ox. Sol.	3	H272
Acute toxicity	Acute Tox.	4	H312
Oxidising gases	Ox. Gas	1	H270
Skin corrosion	Skin Corr.	1B	H314
Specific target organ toxicity - repeated exposure	STOT RE	2	H373
Skin sensitization	Skin Sens.	1	H317

• Transport Information: UN 1479

Discovery and Applications

Cupric nitrate trihydrate is an inorganic salt with the formula Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O. It is the hydrated form of cupric nitrate, a blue crystalline solid that is highly soluble in water and ethanol. The compound has been used historically and in modern times as a precursor in chemical synthesis, as a catalyst in organic reactions, and in specialized industrial processes. Its trihydrate form is one of the most stable hydrates of cupric nitrate and is frequently encountered in laboratory and industrial contexts.

The discovery of cupric nitrate dates back to the early investigations of mineral acids and their salts in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Nitrate salts of metals were among the first to be systematically prepared through reactions of metals or their oxides with nitric acid. In the case of copper, exposure to nitric acid produces copper(II) nitrate in solution, which upon evaporation can yield crystalline hydrates including the trihydrate. This form was particularly well studied due to its stability at ambient conditions compared with other hydrates.

Cupric nitrate trihydrate is valued for its oxidative properties. In organic synthesis, it has been used as a mild oxidant and a nitrating agent, particularly in the preparation of aromatic nitro compounds. Its role in catalysis has also been explored, for instance in the promotion of selective oxidation reactions and in facilitating polymerization processes. The nitrate ion’s ability to participate in redox chemistry makes the compound a useful reagent in both research and applied chemistry. In coordination chemistry, cupric nitrate trihydrate is often used as a copper(II) source for the preparation of coordination complexes, which are studied for their structural, catalytic, and magnetic properties.

Industrial applications have included its use in the textile and ceramics industries. In dyeing processes, it has been applied as a mordant to fix dyes onto fabrics, while in ceramics, it has been used as a coloring agent to impart distinctive blue-green hues during firing. Cupric nitrate salts have also been employed in pyrotechnics for producing blue flame coloration, although their use has diminished in favor of more stable and less hygroscopic compounds.

One of the key research areas involving cupric nitrate trihydrate has been in materials science. It serves as a precursor for the synthesis of copper oxide (CuO) nanoparticles and thin films when subjected to controlled thermal decomposition. These copper oxide materials are investigated for applications in catalysis, gas sensing, and photovoltaic devices. The ease of handling the trihydrate and its predictable decomposition pathway make it particularly suitable for these purposes.

Despite its versatility, cupric nitrate trihydrate requires careful handling. Like other nitrates, it is a strong oxidizer and can accelerate the combustion of organic materials. It is also toxic upon ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact, and its solutions are corrosive. For this reason, laboratory and industrial use is strictly controlled under safety protocols, with protective equipment and storage considerations being essential to prevent hazardous incidents.

The continued use of cupric nitrate trihydrate highlights its role as both a traditional inorganic salt and a modern precursor for advanced materials. Its discovery in the context of early nitrate chemistry provided a foundation for its long-standing use in analytical chemistry, catalysis, and industrial processes, while its current applications extend into the fields of nanotechnology and renewable energy materials.

References

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DOI: 10.1007/s10661-014-4049-2

2018. Ceria nanoparticles deposited on graphene nanosheets for adsorption of copper(II) and lead(II) ions and of anionic species of arsenic and selenium. Microchimica Acta.
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-018-2806-6

2022. Sensitive photoelectrochemical detection of colitoxin DNA based on NCDs@CuO/ZnO heterostructured nanocomposites with efficient separation capacity of photo-induced carriers. Microchimica Acta.
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-022-05280-y

2025. Leaf–like copper–based nanocomposites as adsorbents for dispersive solid-phase extraction: application to determination of cobalt in lemon balm tea using FAAS. Journal of Nanoparticle Research.
DOI: 10.1007/s11051-025-06391-2