Copper Acetate Anhydrous Cu(CH₃COO)₂ · anhydrous · CAS 142-71-2
Bought for the water it does not contain. In moisture-sensitive synthesis the hydrate is simply the wrong reagent — and you also get 35.0% copper against the monohydrate’s 31.8%.
Chelora Chemicals is an anhydrous copper acetate supplier and sourcing partner serving fine chemical, catalyst and specialty buyers across the United States, with a batch COA, SDS and UN 3077 documentation on every consignment.
- CAS Number
- 142-71-2
- Chemical name
- Copper(II) acetate, anhydrous
- Molecular formula
- Cu(CH₃COO)₂
- Molecular weight
- 181.63 g/mol
- Copper as Cu (theoretical)
- 35.0%
- Appearance
- Dark green crystals
- Melting point
- 115 °C
- Transport
- UN 3077 · Class 9 · PG III
- HS Code
- 2915 29
Note: the anhydrous and the monohydrate are different purchases. Anhydrous is CAS 142-71-2, 181.63 g/mol, dark green, 35.0% copper. The monohydrate is CAS 6046-93-1, 199.65 g/mol, a more bluish green, 31.8% copper. If your reaction tolerates water the monohydrate is cheaper and easier to handle; if it does not, the hydrate will quietly ruin the run. Specify the hydration state, not just "copper acetate".
From carbonate to water-free acetate
Copper acetate is made from a copper base and acetic acid. Getting the water out afterwards is the extra step you are paying for.
Why it matters: the monohydrate is what crystallizes out — the anhydrous grade costs more because removing that water is a separate operation
When the water matters
Anhydrous copper(II) acetate is a dark green crystalline solid, Cu(CH₃COO)₂, melting at 115 °C and carrying 35.0% copper. It is the same compound as the monohydrate minus one water per copper — and in most applications that difference is irrelevant.
Where it is not irrelevant is moisture-sensitive chemistry. Copper acetate is an oxidant in the Eglinton reaction, which couples terminal alkynes into 1,3-diynes, and it appears in ynamine preparation and in hydroamination work. In reactions run under anhydrous conditions, introducing a reagent that carries its own water defeats the purpose. The secondary benefit is density: at 35.0% copper against the monohydrate’s 31.8%, you ship about 10% less material for the same copper.
When to specify anhydrous over the monohydrate
- Moisture-sensitive synthesis. The main reason — a hydrate reagent defeats anhydrous conditions.
- Copper density. 35.0% against 31.8%, so roughly 10% less material for the same copper.
- Everywhere else, buy the monohydrate. It is cheaper, easier to handle and chemically identical in water.
- The hydrate: copper acetate monohydrate.
Handling character
Copper acetate is a Class 9 dangerous good on aquatic toxicity grounds. Full detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark green crystals |
| Assay | Per agreed specification |
| Copper as Cu | 35.0% theoretical |
| Water content | Per agreed specification — the defining parameter |
| Insolubles | Per agreed 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 | Dark green crystalline solid |
| Molecular weight | 181.63 g/mol |
| Copper as Cu, theoretical | 35.0% |
| Melting point | 115 °C |
| Solubility | Soluble in water and alcohol |
| Structure | Paddle-wheel dimer in the hydrate |
| Versus monohydrate | No water; 35.0% vs 31.8% Cu |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 142-71-2 and rounded for readability. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where US industry uses copper acetate
Moisture-sensitive synthesis, catalysis and specialty chemistry.
Moisture-sensitive synthesis
The reason the grade exists. An oxidant in the Eglinton reaction coupling terminal alkynes to 1,3-diynes, and in ynamine and hydroamination work.
- Water content is the key specification
- Consistent assay lot to lot
- Small quantities available
Catalysis
A copper(II) source in catalytic and organometallic chemistry where the oxidation state and the absence of water both matter.
- Documented impurity profile
- Particle size to specification
- Technical desk review on request
Pigments & patination
A mixture of copper acetate and ammonium chloride gives copper a bronze patina; the acetates are also historical green pigments.
- Shade consistency per lot
- Small packs available
- Low insolubles on request
Analytical & laboratory reagents
Used in Barfoed’s test for monosaccharides and in the copper soap assay for free fatty acids.
- Reagent-grade documentation on request
- Sealed small packs
- Retained sample held
Copper density in shipping
At 35.0% copper against 31.8% for the hydrate, roughly 10% less material ships for the same copper delivered.
- Lower freight per kg copper
- Bulk and bagged supply
- Consistent assay
Import & compliance coordination
Industrial, catalyst and reagent uses take the ordinary import route; any pesticidal use does not.
- End use confirmed before quoting
- UN 3077 documentation prepared
- Broker coordination on request
Delivered to US plants and ports
We ship anhydrous copper acetate 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
Anhydrous copper acetate 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 anhydrous copper acetate
Chelora Chemicals is a copper acetate supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On this line the only question that really matters is hydration state, and it is the one most often left off the purchase order.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your water specification, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm US import requirements before booking.
We will also tell you when the monohydrate is the right buy. If your chemistry runs in water, you are paying for a drying step you do not need.
- Water content specified, because it is the whole point. The anhydrous grade exists for moisture-sensitive chemistry, so the water figure is the specification rather than a footnote.
- We will steer you to the monohydrate where that is right. If your reaction runs in water, the anhydrous grade is a drying step you are paying for and do not need.
- CAS stated on the order. 142-71-2 anhydrous, 6046-93-1 monohydrate — different materials, different molecular weights, different copper.
- Moisture-barrier packaging as standard. An anhydrous grade in a permeable pack stops being anhydrous.
- UN 3077 documentation prepared before booking. Class 9 on aquatic toxicity grounds; the paperwork is not optional.
- Batch traceability to the producing plant. Full chain of custody documentation on request.
Bagged or drummed
25 kg bags, drums or small sealed packs — all moisture-barrier, which matters more on this grade.
25 kg poly-lined bags
Moisture-barrier bags on stretch-wrapped pallets, UN-marked — the barrier is part of the specification here.
Fiber or plastic drums
Sealed drums where extended storage or maximum moisture protection is needed.
Small sealed units
Smaller sealed units for laboratory, pilot and fine chemical work.
500–1,000 kg bulk bags
Liner-fitted bulk bags for larger-volume synthesis operations.
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 reaction trials before a commercial order.
A Class 9 dangerous good on aquatic grounds
Copper acetate is harmful by ingestion and irritating to skin and eyes, 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.
One historical note, stated so it is not mistaken for a current application. Copper acetate was historically a precursor to Paris green, a copper acetoarsenite insecticide and pigment. That is an arsenical compound and is not something we supply, support or will provide preparation detail on. It appears here only because it turns up in older literature on copper acetate and buyers occasionally ask.
Storage
Store in sealed packaging in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from strong oxidizers and strong acids, and away from food and feedstuffs. Copper acetate has a faint acetic odor and the packaging should contain it. 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. 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 copper acetate is made
Copper acetate is made industrially by heating copper(II) hydroxide or basic copper carbonate with acetic acid. The carbonate route is the cleaner of the two, because the acid decomposes the carbonate into the acetate, carbon dioxide and water, carrying no counter-ion through.
What crystallizes out of that reaction is the monohydrate, not the anhydrous salt. The hydrate adopts a distinctive paddle-wheel dimer structure — two copper atoms bridged by four acetates, with a water molecule on each copper and the two coppers only about 2.62 Å apart, close to the spacing in metallic copper. Getting to the anhydrous grade means removing that water in a separate operation, which is why it costs more.
That structure also gave copper acetate a place in physics. The two copper centers couple magnetically, making the compound essentially diamagnetic below 90 K — behavior that helped establish modern theories of antiferromagnetic exchange coupling.
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) acetate, anhydrous |
|---|---|
| Made from | Copper carbonate or hydroxide + acetic acid |
| Copper content | 35.0% theoretical |
| Why anhydrous | Moisture-sensitive synthesis |
| Cost driver | Water removal is a separate step |
| Default grade | Monohydrate, unless water interferes |
The copper range and related compounds
The other copper salts and the fixed coppers supplied from the same desk.
Anhydrous copper acetate, answered
What is the difference between anhydrous and monohydrate copper acetate?
When do I actually need the anhydrous grade?
Why does the anhydrous grade cost more?
How much more copper does it carry?
How should it be stored?
What is the paddle-wheel structure?
Do you supply it for Paris green manufacture?
Is copper acetate hazardous?
Do you supply anhydrous copper acetate in the United States?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on anhydrous copper acetate
Tell us your water specification and the reaction it is going into — that decides whether you need the anhydrous grade at all. Send pack size and US delivery point with it and we will quote firm, or quote the monohydrate instead if that is the better buy.