Copper Acetate Monohydrate Cu(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O · CAS 6046-93-1
The grade almost everyone actually wants. It is what crystallizes out of the manufacturing reaction, it is cheaper than the anhydrous, and in any chemistry that runs in water the hydration makes no difference.
Chelora Chemicals is a copper acetate monohydrate supplier and sourcing partner serving catalyst, pigment and laboratory buyers across the United States, with a batch COA, SDS and UN 3077 documentation on every consignment.
- CAS Number
- 6046-93-1
- Chemical name
- Copper(II) acetate monohydrate
- Molecular formula
- Cu(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O
- Molecular weight
- 199.65 g/mol
- Copper as Cu (theoretical)
- 31.8%
- Appearance
- Blue-green crystals
- Density
- 1.882 g/cm³
- Transport
- UN 3077 · Class 9 · PG III
- HS Code
- 2915 29
Note: this is the default grade — specify the other one only if you need it. The monohydrate is CAS 6046-93-1, 199.65 g/mol, blue-green, 31.8% copper, and it is what the manufacturing reaction produces. The anhydrous grade, CAS 142-71-2, 181.63 g/mol, dark green, 35.0% copper, requires a separate drying step and costs more. Unless water would interfere with your chemistry, this is the one to buy.
From carbonate to crystalline acetate
A copper base and acetic acid. The monohydrate is what comes out of solution — no extra step required.
Why it matters: the hydrate is the natural product of the reaction — which is why it is the cheaper grade and the one held in stock almost everywhere
What copper acetate is used for
Copper(II) acetate monohydrate is a blue-green crystalline solid carrying 31.8% copper, dissolving at 7.2 g per 100 mL in cold water and 20 g per 100 mL in hot. It is made by heating copper hydroxide or basic copper carbonate with acetic acid, and it is what crystallizes out of that reaction.
Its uses span industry and the laboratory. Copper acetates are historical green pigments and, mixed with ammonium chloride, give copper a bronze patina. In the laboratory the compound is an oxidant in the Eglinton reaction coupling terminal alkynes to 1,3-diynes, a reagent in Barfoed’s test for monosaccharides and in the copper soap assay for free fatty acids. Heating it with copper metal gives colorless copper(I) acetate.
Why the monohydrate is the default
- It is what the reaction produces. No extra drying step, so it is the cheaper grade.
- Water is irrelevant in aqueous chemistry. If your process runs in water, the hydration changes nothing.
- Easier to handle. A hydrate does not degrade by picking up atmospheric moisture the way an anhydrous grade does.
- The anhydrous grade, if water would interfere: copper acetate anhydrous.
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 | Blue-green crystals |
| Assay | Per agreed specification |
| Copper as Cu | 31.8% theoretical |
| Water of crystallization | One per copper |
| 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 | Blue-green crystalline solid |
| Molecular weight | 199.65 g/mol |
| Copper as Cu, theoretical | 31.8% |
| Density | 1.882 g/cm³ |
| Solubility, cold water | 7.2 g per 100 mL |
| Solubility, hot water | 20 g per 100 mL |
| Structure | Paddle-wheel dimer; Cu–Cu ≈ 2.62 Å |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 6046-93-1 and rounded for readability. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where US industry uses copper acetate
Catalysis, pigments and patination, and laboratory reagents.
Catalysis & organic synthesis
An oxidant in the Eglinton reaction coupling terminal alkynes to 1,3-diynes, and a reagent in ynamine preparation and hydroamination.
- Consistent assay lot to lot
- Documented impurity profile
- Small quantities available
Pigments & patination
A historical green pigment; with ammonium chloride it gives copper a bronze patina, a standard finishing treatment.
- Shade consistency per lot
- Low insolubles on request
- Small packs available
Laboratory & analytical 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(I) acetate preparation
Heating copper(II) acetate with copper metal gives colorless copper(I) acetate, a route used where the Cu(I) state is wanted.
- Consistent purity
- Technical desk review on request
- Small and bulk quantities
Textile & specialty uses
Copper acetates appear in textile and specialty chemical work where a soluble copper(II) source is needed.
- Soluble copper source
- Low insolubles
- Bulk and bagged supply
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 copper acetate monohydrate 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
Copper acetate monohydrate 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 copper acetate monohydrate
Chelora Chemicals is a copper acetate supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On this line the main service is making sure you are buying the right hydration state — and most of the time that is this one.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your assay and purity requirement, your price point and your delivery window, and confirm US import requirements before booking.
We will tell you plainly when the anhydrous grade is worth the premium: only when water would interfere with your chemistry. Otherwise it is a drying step you are paying for and do not need.
- Hydration state stated on the order. 6046-93-1 monohydrate, 142-71-2 anhydrous — different molecular weights and different copper, so the CAS goes on the paperwork.
- We will not upsell you to the anhydrous grade. It is worth the premium only when water would interfere with the reaction; in aqueous chemistry it changes nothing.
- Assay and insolubles agreed up front. For reagent and catalyst use the impurity profile matters more than the headline copper figure.
- Shade consistency where the use is pigment or patination. Held against a retained sample rather than assumed.
- 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 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.
Small sealed units
Smaller sealed units for laboratory, reagent and pilot work.
500–1,000 kg bulk bags
Liner-fitted bulk bags for larger-volume 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 and shade 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 the monohydrate 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: the acid decomposes the carbonate into the acetate, carbon dioxide and water, carrying no sulfate or chloride counter-ion through into the product.
What comes out of solution is the monohydrate, and it has an unusual structure worth knowing about. The compound forms a paddle-wheel dimer: two copper atoms bridged by four acetate groups, with a water molecule bound to each copper. The two coppers sit about 2.62 Å apart, close to the spacing in metallic copper itself, and each is bonded to four acetate oxygens at about 1.97 Å and one water at about 2.20 Å.
That proximity has a measurable consequence. The two copper centers couple magnetically, making the compound essentially diamagnetic below 90 K — behavior that helped establish modern theories of antiferromagnetic exchange coupling. The same paddle-wheel motif appears in rhodium(II) and chromium(II) tetraacetates.
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 monohydrate |
|---|---|
| Made from | Copper carbonate or hydroxide + acetic acid |
| Copper content | 31.8% theoretical |
| Why the default | It is what crystallizes out; no drying step |
| Structure | Paddle-wheel dimer, Cu–Cu ≈ 2.62 Å |
| Buy anhydrous instead | Only if water interferes |
The copper range and related compounds
The other copper salts and the fixed coppers supplied from the same desk.
Copper acetate monohydrate, answered
Should I buy the monohydrate or the anhydrous grade?
What is the difference between the two?
What is copper acetate used for?
How soluble is it?
What is the paddle-wheel structure?
Is it related to verdigris?
Do you supply it for Paris green manufacture?
Is copper acetate hazardous?
Do you supply copper acetate monohydrate in the United States?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on copper acetate monohydrate
Send us your required assay, insolubles limit, pack size and US delivery point. If you are unsure whether you need the anhydrous grade, tell us the reaction and we will say — most of the time the answer is no.