CHEMICAL CHANGES

Precipitation of Copper (II) Hydroxide

Starting reagents:
Products:
Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) Cu(OH)2(s) + 2NaNO3(aq)
blue soln

colorless

blue ppt

colorless supernate
(liquid part)

Type of reaction: double displacement reaction

Cu(NO3)2 and Cu(OH)2 are blue due to Cu2+ ions
Expect other solutions with Cu2+ to be blue.
Ex: CuCl2, Cu(CH3COO)2
But CuO is black. Most oxides are black.

Precipitation of Copper (II) Hydroxide

Net ionic equation:

Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) Cu(OH)2(s) + 2NaNO3(aq)

Cu2+(aq) + 2NO3-(aq) + 2Na+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) Cu(OH)2(s) + 2Na+(aq) 2NO3-(aq)

Cu2+(aq) + 2NO3-(aq) + 2Na+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) Cu(OH)2(s) + 2Na+(aq) 2NO3-(aq)

Cu2+(aq) + 2OH-(aq) ) Cu(OH)2(s)

Type of reaction: Combination reaction

Type of reaction depends whether you look at the general eqn or the net ionic
eqn.

Precipitation of Copper (II) Hydroxide

Importance of Test for alkalinity (basicity)

Use

red litmus paper: red to blue = basic

Basic excess OH- ions are present in the solution

You want to check if NaOH (OH- ion) is in excess

Indicates all of Cu(NO3)2 has reacted with NaOH

and converted to Cu(OH)2

Oxidation to Copper (II) Oxide

Cu(OH)2(s)
Blue ppt

CuO(s) + H2O(l)
black solid

Type of reaction: decomposition reaction

Decomposition reactions usually require heat

Supernate: NaNO3 (from step 1) and H2O
Net ionic equation: same as eqn above

Conversion to Copper (II) Sulfate

Decant allow ppt to settle; pour out supernate

Wash with distilled H2O several times to remove

previous supernate (NaNO3)
CuO(s) + H2SO4(aq) CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
Black solid

acid

blue solution

Type of reaction: Double displacement reaction

Conversion to Copper (II) Sulfate

Net ionic equation:

CuO(s) +2H+(aq) + SO42-(aq) Cu2+(aq) + SO42-(aq) + H2O(l)
CuO(s) +2H+(aq) Cu2+(aq) + H2O(l)

Type of reaction: single displacement reaction

Reduction of Cu(II) to metallic copper

CuSO4(aq) + Zn(s) Cu(s) + ZnSO4(aq)

Blue soln

gray powder

brick red ppt

colorless supernate

Type of reaction:
Single displacement reaction

Remember Activity Series of Metals!

Notes:
Add Zn dust in small amounts, Why?

reaction is exothermic (Heat releasing)

minimize evolution of H2 gas with H2SO4 (left from previous rxn)

Reduction of Cu(II) to metallic copper

Net ionic equation:

Cu2+(aq) + Zn(s) Cu(s) + Zn2+(aq)
REDUCTION
OXIDATION
Cu2+

gains 2 electrons giving Cu(s)

Zn(s) loses 2 electrons giving Zn2+

Type of Reaction: Reduction-Oxidation (Redox) reaction

Changes in oxidation states of each species

LEORA

Lose of Electron Oxidation; it is the Reducing Agent

GEROA

Gain of Electron Reduction, it is the Oxidizing Agent

Reduction of Cu(II) to metallic copper

Notes:
Test for completeness of reaction (Addition of NH3)

To test complete conversion of CuSO4 Cu(s)

If solution is still blue, add more Zn

CuSO4 is still present and would react with NH3
Cu2+ + 4NH3 [Cu(NH3)4]2+ blue complex

If solution is colorless, Cu2+ has reacted completely

ZnSO4 is present instead and would react with NH3
Zn2+ + 4NH3 [Zn(NH3)4]2+ colorless/ cloudy complex

Reduction of Cu(II) to metallic copper

Decant, wash with H2O to remove excess ZnSO4

Add 6.0 M HCl to remove excess Zn(s) dust

Zn(s) + 2HCl(aq) ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g) single displacement rxn

Net ionic equation:
Zn(s) + H+(aq) Zn2+(aq) + H2(g) redox reaction

Oxidation of copper solid

2Cu(s) + O2(g) 2CuO(s)
Brick red

black

Type of Reaction: Combination reaction

Note: If dried using heat, Cu(s) will be oxidized to CuO(s)

Experimental mass of Cu(s)

Experimental mass of Cu(s)

= (wt. of filter paper + Cu) (wt. of filter paper)

Theoretical Yield:
convert moles of Cu(NO3)2 to moles Cu
Starting material: 5 ml of 0.1M Cu(NO3)2

0.005 L x 0.1 M = 0.0005 moles Cu(NO3)2

0.0005mol Cu(NO3)2
1 mol Cu
63.55g Cu
1 mol Cu(NO3)2 1 mol Cu

= 0.03g Cu

Percent Yield
% Yield = Experimental yield x 100%
Theoretical yield

100% yield = ideal but almost impossible to achieve at

normal lab conditions
>100% -- may be due to impurities such as excess
Zn(s), insufficient drying of filter paper
<100% -- may be due to loss of material, incomplete
rxns, experimental errors (wrong volume measurement,
etc.)