CuSO4 in SO2/SO3 gas sampling in Sulphuric Acid Production
Heating hydrate copper sulfate at 105 degrees does nothing. The chemically bound water takes a higher temperature to remove all water molecules (water is lost in steps as a function of temperature). This low temperature removes only two water molecules out of five. I think the major role of copper sulfate, besides being a gentle dessicant, is to oxidize sulfur dioxide to trioxide. Cu(II) ion is a mild oxidizing agent, and mild enough that it can oxidize sulfur dioxide to the trioxide.