The structure of copper sulphate pentahydrate was refined using an accurate set of X-ray data: M, = 249.68, triclinic, P1, a = 6.1224 (4), b = 10.7223 (4), c=5.9681 (4) A, a=82.35(2), fl=107.33 (2), y= 102.60 (4) °, V= 364.02 (3)/~3, Z = 2, Dx = 2.278 Mg m -a, Mo Ka, A = 0.71069/~, /z = 3.419 mm -1, F(000) = 254.0, T = 298 K, R = 0.039 for 7667 reflections. The structural parameters are compared with those obtained by neutron diffraction. The differences between X-ray and neutron positions are related to the hydrogen bonding in the structure. The dominant features in the residual density near the two crystallographically independent Cu atoms result from the redistribution of 3d electrons due to bonding. The density is anisotropic, as expected in view of the Jahn-Teller distortion in the structure. Marked differences in the d-electron distributions for the two Cu atoms correlate with small variations in molecular geometry. Second-nearest-neighbour effects, such as those arising from differently oriented ligating waters, are significant in this structure. Sharp features in the difference density close to the Cu nuclei are similar to those in other Cu 2÷ complexes, indicating that the electron density in this region is more reliable than previously believed.