Two intra-molecular inter-ligand C(aromatic)–H⋯O(carboxyl) interactions reinforce the formation of a single Cu(II)–N4(pza) bond in the molecular recognition between pyrazine-2-carboxamide (pza) and the (iminodiacetato)copper(II) chelate. Synthesis, molecular and crystal structure and properties of [Cu(IDA)(pza)(H2O)]·H2O