Basic Copper Carbonate Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃ · CAS 12069-69-1
If you ordered "copper carbonate", this is what arrives. The neutral compound barely exists — commercial copper carbonate is the basic form, and the distinction is worth knowing before you specify.
Chelora Chemicals is a basic copper carbonate supplier and sourcing partner serving pigment, catalyst and chemical buyers across the United States, with a batch COA, SDS and UN 3077 documentation on every consignment.
- CAS Number
- 12069-69-1
- Chemical name
- Copper(II) carbonate hydroxide
- Molecular formula
- Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃
- Molecular weight
- 221.11 g/mol
- Copper as Cu (theoretical)
- 57.5%
- Mineral equivalent
- Malachite
- Water solubility
- Insoluble; decomposed by acids
- Transport
- UN 3077 · Class 9 · PG III
- HS Code
- 2836 99
Note: "copper carbonate" and "basic copper carbonate" are the same purchase. Neutral CuCO₃ is not known to occur naturally, is decomposed by water or atmospheric moisture, and was first synthesized only in 1973 under high temperature and pressure. Commercial material is therefore the basic form, Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃ — the synthetic equivalent of malachite. A second CAS, 1184-64-1, also circulates for basic copper carbonate, so confirm the number on the COA.
The acid-soluble copper feedstock
Basic copper carbonate dissolves cleanly in acids, giving off carbon dioxide and leaving the copper salt you want.
Why it matters: acids decompose it into a copper salt and carbon dioxide — no sulfate, chloride or nitrate left behind, which is why it is the preferred feedstock for clean copper salt synthesis
What basic copper carbonate is used for
Basic copper carbonate is a green powder, Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃ — the synthetic equivalent of the mineral malachite, and one of the two copper carbonates that make up the verdigris patina on weathered copper, brass and bronze. At 57.5% theoretical copper it is among the denser copper compounds we supply.
Its commercial value rests on one property: it is insoluble in water but readily decomposed by acids, releasing carbon dioxide and leaving the copper salt behind. That makes it the clean feedstock for synthesising other copper compounds — including both copper acetates — because no sulfate, chloride or nitrate counter-ion is carried through. It is also a traditional pigment, sold historically as verditer, green bice and mountain green, and is used in gas sweetening to remove thiols and hydrogen sulfide.
What the specification controls
- Copper as Cu, 57.5% theoretical. Commercial material sits below it; the assay is agreed per order.
- Acid solubility and insolubles. The parameter that matters where the carbonate is a salt feedstock.
- Shade and particle size. Where the end use is pigment, the green is the product attribute.
- The acetates it feeds: anhydrous and monohydrate.
Handling character
Basic copper carbonate is a Class 9 dangerous good on aquatic toxicity grounds. Full detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Green powder |
| Copper as Cu | Per agreed specification |
| Theoretical Cu for pure Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃ | 57.5% |
| Acid solubility | Per agreed specification |
| Moisture | Per grade specification |
| Particle size | Per agreed sieve specification |
Important: the figures above are indicative of commercial material and are offered for planning only. The batch certificate of analysis is the governing document.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Physical state | Green powder or solid |
| Molecular weight | 221.11 g/mol |
| Copper as Cu, theoretical | 57.5% |
| Water solubility | Insoluble |
| Behavior with acids | Decomposes to copper salt + CO₂ |
| Melting point | ≈ 200 °C |
| Decomposition | To CuO, CO₂ and water on heating |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 12069-69-1 and rounded for readability. Commercial material sits below the theoretical copper figure. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where US industry uses it
Copper salt synthesis, pigments, gas sweetening and catalysis.
Copper salt & copper soap synthesis
The cleanest copper feedstock: acids decompose it to the copper salt and carbon dioxide, leaving no counter-ion behind.
- Acid solubility specified
- Low insolubles
- Feeds the acetates
Pigments & colorants
A traditional green pigment — verditer, green bice, mountain green — still used in artists’ and specialty colorant work.
- Shade matched to retained sample
- Particle size to specification
- Low iron on request
Gas sweetening
Removes thiols and hydrogen sulfide from gas streams, a long-established industrial use.
- Surface area to specification
- Consistent reactivity
- Bulk supply available
Catalyst precursors
A precursor to copper catalysts where a clean, counter-ion-free copper source is needed.
- Particle size specified
- Documented impurity profile
- Technical desk review on request
Agricultural & wood preservation
Used as an algaecide and wood preservative, and appears in EPA’s copper reregistration grouping.
- Pesticidal use needs EPA registration
- End use confirmed before quoting
- Registration sits with the registrant
Import & compliance coordination
End use decides the route: pesticidal uses need a Notice of Arrival; pigment and catalyst uses do not.
- End use confirmed before quoting
- UN 3077 documentation prepared
- Broker coordination on request
Delivered to US plants and ports
We ship basic copper carbonate to nominated delivery points across the United States. The regions below are destinations we serve — Chelora Chemicals is a sourcing and supply partner, not a US manufacturer, and does not hold US stock.
Gulf Coast
The largest US chemical cluster, and the usual entry point for bulk consignments.
- Houston & Galveston, TX
- New Orleans & Baton Rouge, LA
- Mobile, AL
Northeast
Container and bulk delivery into the mid-Atlantic and New England manufacturing belt.
- Newark & Elizabeth, NJ
- Philadelphia, PA
- Boston, MA
Southeast
Port-side delivery for the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida processing plants.
- Savannah, GA
- Charleston, SC
- Jacksonville, FL & Norfolk, VA
Midwest & Great Lakes
Inland rail and truck forwarding from the nearest coastal port to the industrial Midwest.
- Chicago, IL
- Detroit, MI
- Cleveland & Columbus, OH
West Coast
Pacific routing for West Coast processors and formulators.
- Los Angeles & Long Beach, CA
- Oakland, CA
- Seattle & Tacoma, WA
Southwest & Mountain
Inland delivery to interior states, forwarded from the Gulf or Pacific gateway.
- Dallas–Fort Worth, TX
- Phoenix, AZ
- Denver, CO
Importing into the United States
Basic copper carbonate is a TSCA-regulated chemical substance. Under TSCA section 13 the importer of record, or its authorized agent, must certify to US Customs and Border Protection that each shipment either complies with TSCA or is not subject to it. We confirm the substance's TSCA Inventory status and agree in writing who files that certification before the first consignment moves.
Which party carries that duty follows the Incoterm. On FOB, CFR or CIF terms it is usually the US buyer; on DDP terms it can be the seller or its agent. Safety data sheets and labels are supplied to OSHA's updated Hazard Communication Standard, and the UN 3077 Class 9 transport documentation is prepared before booking.
| Item | How it works |
|---|---|
| Delivery points | Any nominated US plant, terminal or port of discharge |
| Incoterms quoted | FOB · CFR · CIF · DDP |
| Importer of record | Agreed in writing before the first shipment |
| TSCA certification | Section 13 positive certification filed at entry |
| Documentation | Batch COA, SDS, packing list, certificate of origin |
| Pack formats | 25 kg bags or drums |
Note: regional coverage describes where we deliver, not where we hold inventory. Lead time depends on producer scheduling and ocean transit to your nominated US port — we confirm both in the quotation.
How we supply basic copper carbonate
Chelora Chemicals is a basic copper carbonate supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. The first thing we settle is what you actually mean by copper carbonate — because the neutral compound is not a commercial material, and the basic form is what every supplier will ship you.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay, shade and particle size, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm US import requirements before booking.
We keep a second qualified source on this line, so a single-plant disruption never becomes your synthesis or pigment schedule problem.
- Neutral versus basic settled before quoting. Neutral CuCO₃ is not a commercial material; what you will receive is Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃, and we say so rather than letting the order carry an ambiguity.
- CAS confirmed on the COA. 12069-69-1 is the usual number; 1184-64-1 also circulates for basic copper carbonate.
- Acid solubility specified where it is a feedstock. That is what decides whether it dissolves cleanly into your synthesis.
- Shade matched where the end use is pigment. For colorant work the green is the product, so it is held against a retained sample.
- UN 3077 documentation prepared before booking. Class 9 on aquatic toxicity grounds; the paperwork is not optional.
- End use confirmed before quoting. Pesticidal use takes a different import route from pigment or catalyst use.
Bagged or drummed
25 kg bags, drums or bulk bags — all to UN 3077 marking and labeling requirements.
25 kg poly-lined bags
Moisture-barrier bags on stretch-wrapped pallets, UN-marked, the standard commercial unit.
Fiber or plastic drums
Sealed drums where extended storage or extra protection is needed.
500–1,000 kg bulk bags
Liner-fitted bulk bags for high-volume synthesis and pigment operations.
Small sealed units
Smaller sealed units for laboratory, pilot and shade-matching work.
Incoterms to suit you
Quoted on the Incoterm your purchasing team works to, with dangerous goods documentation filed before booking.
Trial / sample quantities
Small packs dispatched for dissolution, shade and synthesis trials before a commercial order.
A Class 9 dangerous good on aquatic grounds
Basic copper carbonate is harmful by ingestion and irritating to eyes and skin, and it is very toxic to aquatic life with long-lasting effects — which is what makes it a Class 9 dangerous good. The summary below is orientation only — the safety data sheet supplied with your specific batch is the authoritative document.
Classified hazards
H302Harmful if swallowed.H315Causes skin irritation.H319Causes serious eye irritation.H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
End use decides the import route. These copper compounds have industrial, catalytic, pigment and in some cases pesticidal and feed applications, and they do not all follow the same path into the United States. Where material is destined for a pesticidal use, the import is a pesticide import: it requires a Notice of Arrival, EPA Form 3540-1, filed with Customs, and any product sold or applied here must itself be EPA-registered under FIFRA, with that registration held by the registrant and never by a raw material supplier. For catalyst, pigment, electronics or other industrial use a different route applies, and feed use is a separate regulatory question again. Tell us the end use before we quote.
Storage
Store in sealed packaging in a dry, covered area away from acids — which decompose it — and away from food and feedstuffs. The material is stable under normal conditions and does not need the moisture control copper sulfate requires or the temperature control copper hydroxide requires. Bunded or contained storage is advised because of the aquatic hazard.
Handling
Handle with dust control, gloves and eye protection; the material is harmful if swallowed and irritates skin and eyes. Note that contact with acids liberates carbon dioxide. Prevent any release to drains, watercourses or soil. Follow the exposure controls set out in the batch SDS.
Transport
This material is classified as dangerous goods for transport on the basis of aquatic toxicity, normally shipped as UN 3077, Environmentally hazardous substance, solid, n.o.s., Class 9, Packing Group III. Marked and labeled packaging, a dangerous goods declaration and compliant documentation are required. We confirm and document the classification for your specific grade, packaging and destination before booking.
Every batch, documented
We verify documentation before dispatch so there are no surprises at your incoming-goods bench.
Specification agreed
Copper assay, hydration state, particle size, impurity limits and end use confirmed before order placement.
Producer batch testing
The producing plant tests each batch against the agreed specification before release.
Documentation review
COA, SDS, import position and UN 3077 paperwork checked by our desk before booking.
Traceable dispatch
Each shipment is traceable to its producing batch, with full chain-of-custody records on request.
How it is made, and why basic
Basic copper carbonate is made by precipitating a copper salt solution with an alkali carbonate — sodium carbonate added to copper sulfate or copper chloride solution under controlled pH and temperature. The green solid that comes out is Cu₂(OH)₂CO₃, not CuCO₃.
That distinction is not a technicality. Neutral copper carbonate is not known to occur naturally, it is decomposed by water or by moisture from the air, and it was first synthesized only in 1973 under high temperature and pressure. There is no commercial neutral copper carbonate. Anyone offering you "copper carbonate" is offering the basic form, and the honest thing is to say so on the order rather than let the ambiguity ride.
The reason it is such a useful feedstock is what happens next. Acids decompose it into a copper(II) salt and carbon dioxide — nothing else. Dissolve it in acetic acid and you get copper acetate; in sulfuric acid, copper sulfate. No sulfate, chloride or nitrate counter-ion is carried through from the feedstock, which is why it is preferred where the salt has to be clean.
We do not publish operating process parameters here; this is background only. Full technical documentation accompanies every shipment, and any process-specific detail you need is best confirmed directly with our technical desk.
| Chemical family | Copper(II) carbonate hydroxide |
|---|---|
| Mineral equivalent | Malachite |
| Copper content | 57.5% theoretical |
| Key property | Insoluble in water, decomposed by acids |
| Why "basic" | Neutral CuCO₃ is not a commercial material |
| Classic uses | Pigment, gas sweetening, copper salt feedstock |
The copper range and related compounds
The other copper salts and the fixed coppers supplied from the same desk.
Basic copper carbonate, answered
Is there a difference between copper carbonate and basic copper carbonate?
What is it used for?
Why is it the preferred feedstock for copper salts?
Which CAS number should I order against?
Is it the same as malachite?
What copper content does it carry?
Is it hazardous?
Can I import this into the United States?
Do you supply basic copper carbonate in the United States?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on basic copper carbonate
Send us your required copper assay, acid solubility, shade or particle size, pack size and US delivery point — and tell us the end use, because pigment, catalyst and pesticidal routes differ on import.