Cupric Chloride Dihydrate CuCl₂·2H₂O · CAS 10125-13-0
The etchant that becomes a fungicide. Spent cupric chloride liquor from circuit board manufacture is the dominant feedstock for copper oxychloride — so this compound sits at both ends of a real circular supply chain.
Chelora Chemicals is a cupric chloride dihydrate supplier and sourcing partner serving electronics, catalyst and refining buyers across the United States, with a batch COA, SDS and UN 3077 documentation on every consignment.
- CAS Number
- 10125-13-0
- Chemical name
- Copper(II) chloride dihydrate
- Molecular formula
- CuCl₂·2H₂O
- Molecular weight
- 170.48 g/mol
- Copper as Cu (theoretical)
- 37.3%
- Appearance
- Light blue crystals
- Water solubility
- 75.7 g per 100 mL
- Transport
- UN 3077 · Class 9 · PG III
- HS Code
- 2827 39
Note: the dihydrate and the anhydrous are different materials and different colors. The dihydrate is CAS 10125-13-0, 170.48 g/mol, light blue. Anhydrous copper(II) chloride is CAS 7447-39-4, 134.45 g/mol, dark brown, and it slowly absorbs moisture to become the dihydrate. If a quote names "copper chloride" without a hydration state or a CAS, it is not yet a quote.
The circular copper chain
Cupric chloride etches copper off a circuit board. The spent liquor, loaded with dissolved copper, is then the feedstock for copper oxychloride.
Why it matters: this is a genuinely circular stream — the copper you etch off a board comes back as crop protection chemistry rather than as waste
What cupric chloride dihydrate is used for
Cupric chloride dihydrate is a light blue crystalline solid, CuCl₂·2H₂O, carrying 37.3% copper and dissolving freely — 75.7 g per 100 mL. It loses its water of crystallization at around 100 °C to give the dark brown anhydrous salt, which slowly takes moisture back up again.
Its largest uses are industrial rather than agricultural. It is a catalyst — a co-catalyst with palladium(II) chloride in the Wacker process converting ethene to acetaldehyde, and an oxychlorination catalyst in the Deacon process and in vinyl chloride and dichloromethane manufacture. It chlorinates aromatics and the alpha position of carbonyl compounds. It is a petroleum sweetener, a textile mordant, a wood preservative and a water treatment chemical. And it etches copper from printed circuit boards.
What the specification controls
- Copper as Cu, 37.3% theoretical. Commercial material sits close; the assay is agreed per order.
- Hydration state and CAS. Dihydrate 10125-13-0 light blue; anhydrous 7447-39-4 dark brown.
- Free acid and iron. The impurities that matter most in etching and catalytic service.
- Where the spent liquor goes: copper oxychloride technical.
Handling character
Cupric chloride causes serious eye damage, attacks metals and is a Class 9 dangerous good. Full detail is in the Safety section below.
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Light blue crystals |
| Assay as CuCl₂·2H₂O | Per agreed specification |
| Copper as Cu | 37.3% theoretical |
| Free acid | Per agreed specification |
| Iron | Per agreed specification |
| Water insolubles | Per agreed 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 | Light blue crystals |
| Molecular weight | 170.48 g/mol |
| Copper as Cu, theoretical | 37.3% |
| Water solubility | 75.7 g per 100 mL |
| Loses water at | ≈ 100 °C, giving brown CuCl₂ |
| Decomposition | To CuCl and chlorine from ≈ 400 °C |
| Anhydrous form | CAS 7447-39-4, dark brown |
Physical constants compiled from public reference data for CAS 10125-13-0 and rounded for readability. Treat the table as orientation, not as a specification.
Where US industry uses cupric chloride
Circuit board etching, catalysis, refining and specialty chemistry.
Printed circuit board etching
Dissolves copper from board laminate, and the spent liquor is the main feedstock for copper oxychloride manufacture worldwide.
- Free acid specified
- Low iron on request
- See where the spent liquor goes
Wacker & Deacon catalysis
A co-catalyst with palladium(II) chloride in the Wacker process, and an oxychlorination catalyst in the Deacon process.
- Documented impurity profile
- Consistent assay lot to lot
- Technical desk review on request
Vinyl chloride & chlorinated solvents
A catalyst in the chlorination steps for vinyl chloride and dichloromethane manufacture.
- Bulk and bagged supply
- Low iron on request
- Second source held in reserve
Petroleum sweetening
Listed as a petroleum sweetener, removing sulfur species from hydrocarbon streams.
- Consistent purity
- Bulk supply available
- Documented traceability
Organic synthesis
Chlorinates aromatic hydrocarbons and the alpha position of carbonyl compounds.
- Reagent-grade documentation on request
- Small quantities available
- Retained sample held
Import & compliance coordination
Industrial and catalytic uses take the ordinary import route. Note the US pesticide position below before assuming otherwise.
- End use confirmed before quoting
- UN 3077 documentation prepared
- Broker coordination on request
Delivered to US plants and ports
We ship cupric chloride dihydrate 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
Cupric chloride dihydrate 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 cupric chloride dihydrate
Chelora Chemicals is a cupric chloride supplier and sourcing partner, not a manufacturer. On this line the two things worth settling before quoting are the hydration state — the dihydrate and the anhydrous are different CAS numbers and different colors — and the free acid and iron, which are what etching and catalytic service actually care about.
We place your order with whichever qualified producer best matches your specification, 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 etching or catalyst schedule problem.
- Hydration state and CAS on the order. Dihydrate 10125-13-0 is light blue at 170.48 g/mol; anhydrous 7447-39-4 is dark brown at 134.45. They are not interchangeable by weight.
- Free acid and iron specified. In etching and catalysis these matter more than the headline copper assay, and they are the usual cause of a rejected lot.
- Metal corrosion flagged. Copper chloride attacks metals — storage containers, handling equipment and spill response all need to account for it.
- US pesticide position stated honestly. EPA records list copper chloride dihydrate’s pesticide registration as cancelled, so we do not offer it for pesticidal use here.
- 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 bulk bags — in packaging that accounts for the corrosivity to metals.
25 kg poly-lined bags
Moisture-barrier bags on stretch-wrapped pallets, UN-marked, the standard commercial unit.
Plastic or lined drums
Sealed non-metallic or lined drums — the material attacks bare metal.
500–1,000 kg bulk bags
Liner-fitted bulk bags for high-volume etching and catalyst operations.
Small sealed units
Smaller sealed units for laboratory, pilot and reagent 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 etching and catalyst trials before a commercial order.
Serious eye damage, corrosive to metals, Class 9
Cupric chloride carries three distinct cautions. It is harmful by ingestion and causes serious eye damage; it attacks metals, which affects storage and handling equipment; 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
H290May be corrosive to metals.H302Harmful if swallowed.H315Causes skin irritation.H318Causes serious eye damage.H410Very toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.
US pesticide status, stated plainly. EPA’s copper reregistration documentation lists copper chloride dihydrate, CAS 10125-13-0, with its pesticide registration cancelled. We therefore do not supply this material for pesticidal use in the United States and will not help structure an order that treats it as a registered pesticide here. Its industrial, catalytic, electronics and refining uses are unaffected and follow the ordinary import route — tell us which one applies and we will coordinate with your broker. If you need a registered copper fungicide, copper hydroxide and copper oxychloride are the live routes.
Storage
Store in sealed, non-metallic or lined packaging in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area. The material is corrosive to metals, so bare steel shelving, fittings and spill trays are a poor choice. Keep dry: the dihydrate is stable but the anhydrous form absorbs moisture readily. Bunded or contained storage is advised because of the aquatic hazard.
Handling
Handle with dust control, impervious gloves and tight-fitting eye protection; the material causes serious eye damage and is harmful if swallowed. Use non-metallic scoops and equipment where practical. 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 where it goes afterwards
Cupric chloride is made by chlorinating copper metal or by dissolving copper oxide or carbonate in hydrochloric acid, then crystallizing the dihydrate from solution. Heating it to around 100 °C drives off the water and gives the dark brown anhydrous salt; heating further, from about 400 °C, decomposes it to copper(I) chloride and chlorine.
The more interesting part of its life is what happens after it has been used. In printed circuit board manufacture, cupric chloride etchant dissolves unwanted copper from the laminate and becomes a copper-loaded spent liquor. That liquor is the dominant industrial feedstock for copper oxychloride — neutralized, either the acidic cupric chloride stream or the alkaline cuprammine stream, or the two against each other.
So the same compound appears at both ends of a genuinely circular chain: it takes copper off a circuit board, and the copper it takes comes back as crop protection chemistry and feed trace minerals rather than as waste. It is also why copper oxychloride pricing tracks scrap and etchant availability as much as refined copper.
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) chloride dihydrate |
|---|---|
| Copper content | 37.3% theoretical |
| Color | Light blue; anhydrous is dark brown |
| Largest uses | PCB etching, Wacker and Deacon catalysis |
| Afterlife | Spent liquor feeds copper oxychloride |
| US pesticide status | Registration cancelled |
The copper range and related compounds
The other copper salts and the fixed coppers supplied from the same desk.
Cupric chloride dihydrate, answered
What is the difference between the dihydrate and anhydrous copper chloride?
What is cupric chloride used for?
Can I use it as a fungicide in the United States?
What is the connection to copper oxychloride?
Which impurities matter most?
Is it corrosive to equipment?
What happens when it is heated?
How soluble is it?
Do you supply cupric chloride dihydrate in the United States?
Do you manufacture this yourself?
Get a quote on cupric chloride dihydrate
Send us your required assay, free acid and iron limits, hydration state, pack size and US delivery point — and tell us the end use, because the industrial route and the pesticide route are not the same here.