Single crystal growth of pure and modified copper tartrate crystals bearing composition (Cu)(x)(Na)(y) C4H4O6. nH(2)O (where x = 1, 0.77, 0.65; y = 0, 0.23, 0.35) is achieved using gel technique. The optimum conditions required for the growth of these crystals are worked out. The morphological development of these crystals is studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy. The dominant habit faces of the grown copper tartrate crystals are (0 0 1) and (111). Calculation of the cell parameters using CRYSFIRE software suggests that the pure copper tartrate crystal belongs to orthorhombic system with space group P2(1)/c whereas the modified copper tartrate falls under tetragonal system with the space group P4(2)/nbc. The external morphological development is shown to remain unaffected in the modified copper tartrate. The stoichiometric composition of the crystals is established by EDAX analysis, CH analysis, FTIR spectroscopy and thermoanalytical techniques. Thermal analysis of the grown crystals suggests that pure copper tartrate is thermally stable up to 42.84 degrees C whereas the modified copper tartrate crystals are stable only up to 33.11 and 25.11 degrees C. Calculation of the percentage weight loss from the thermogram supplemented by EDAX/CH analysis and FTIR spectroscopy suggest that the chemical formula of pure copper tartrate crystal is CuC4H4O6 center dot 3H(2)O whereas the chemical formula for the modified copper tartrate crystals is (Cu)(0.77)(Na)(0.23)C4H4O6 center dot 3H(2)O and (Cu)(0.65)(Na)(0.35) C4H4O6 center dot H2O (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.