Being a water-soluble copper salt, copper(II) nitrate is of moderate toxicity. Contact between copper(II) nitrate with mineral acids or strongly heating it should be avoided, as it will give off nitrogen dioxide fumes that are very toxic and corrosive. When attempting to crystallize the solution, even gentle heating is not a good option, as it will slowly decompose and turn into a green slush, which is impossible to dry and useless. Drying it with a desiccator is a slow but good way.