Chemistry Of Copper

Chemistry Of Copper

Chemistry of Copper


Chemical change occurs whenever chemical bonds are broken and/or new chemical bonds are formed. During the chemical reaction, one or more substances are produced. Chemical reactions can be classified in several ways. In this experiment, you will be exploring the different types of chemical reactions.
Copper is a metal belonging to group IB in the periodic table. It is relatively inert and does not readily oxidize in air. It reacts with concentrated nitric acid forming Cu2+ ion. You will observe several chemical properties of copper through a series of reactions shown below:

Safety
Concentrated nitric acid is very corrosive both to the skin and to the eyes. In addition, sodium hydroxide, sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid are also corrosive.   Wash with water immediately if any of these compounds comes into contact with the skin. If you spill any on yourself or on the table, immediately flood the area with water and call your instructor. Wear goggles at all times during this experiment.

Procedure
A. Reaction of Copper Metal
Weigh approximately 0.02-g sample of Cu metal and place in a 4-in. test tube. Perform this next step in the fume hood because of the evolution of a toxic gas. Add concentrated HNO3 dropwise     ( ? 10 drops) to the copper sample until no further evidence of chemical reaction is observed. DO NOT ADD AN EXCESS! (Caution: Nitric acid stains the skin!)
At this point the Cu metal has completely reacted.   Take note of the color of the solution. (Caution: Do not inhale the evolved gas.) What is the color of the gas? Add 10 drops of distilled water. Be sure to write down all your observations. Show the resulting solution to your instructor for approval and save the solution for Part B.
B. Preparation of Copper (II) Hydroxide
Shake the test tube while slowly adding 10 drops of 6M NaOH. (Caution: Do not let NaOH touch the skin!)   Record any change in color of the solution and describe the precipitate. Add 10 more...