Determining types of chemical reactions by using copper (Cu)

undergoing different chemical changes

ABSTRACT
This experiment was performed to determine the factors influencing the appearance or form of
Copper that would convey the different chemical reactions and processes that would prove to not alter the
chemical composition of the metal. This study analyzes the different chemical changes involved in
Experiment 1 by performing laboratory techniques; quantitative methods are likewise used. The acquisition
of different compounds were observed and verified by using various chemical equations that are involved
in the experiment. Even after numerous chemical processes that have altered the physical form of the
Copper, it was still ultimately obtained at the end of the experiment. Thus, experiment 1 has proven laws
governing chemical changes.

INTRODUCTION

Compounds undergo different types of changes overtime, two of which; physical and
chemical, have been subject to numerous scientific observations in order to further
understand how they work. Physical change pertains to change wherein no new
substances are formed. There are different processes involved in physical change such as
evaporation, condensation, sublimation, melting, freezing and other mechanical
processes. Physical change involves only a change in state.

Chemical change, on the other hand, forms a new substance out of the resources
available. The formation of precipitate, changes in color, and evolution of gas, are only a
few reactions that prove that the aforementioned situation has indeed underwent a
chemical reaction. In this experiment, it only proves the Law of Conservation of Mass
which states that no detectable change is observed in the total mass of the substances
involved in a chemical change.

METHODOLOGY
MATERIALS

The materials needed for this experiment are filter paper, weighing balance, copper wire /
granules, hot plate, glass stirring rod, spatula, test tube, beaker, Erlenmeyer flask,
medicine dropper, litmus paper, 6 M HNO 3, 6 M NaOH, 6 M HCL, 6 M H 2SO4, 6 M NH3
and zinc powder.

A. DISSOLUTION OF COPPER

In an Erlenmeyer flask, place about 0.1 g of metallic copper that may be in the form of
wire or granules. Add 4 ml of 6 M nitric acid, HNO 3, in the flask, and warm the contents
on a hot plate. As the metal dissolves, amber to brown vapors will form. Continue heating
until no more brown fumes evaporate from the solution. Let the solution cool in room
temperature then add 4 ml of distilled water.
B. PREPARATION OF COPPER (II) HYDROXIDE
In the solution prepared above, carefully add 6 M sodium hydroxide, drop by drop, until
the solution is basic to red litmus paper (red paper turns blue). Using a magnetic stirrer
(which is an available feature of the hot plate), heat the contents of the flask while adding
the NaOH. A light blue precipitate, Cu(OH)2 will form.

C. PREPARATION OF COPPER (II) OXIDE

On a magnetic-stirring hot plate heat the flask and its contents. Wait until the blue
Cu(OH)2 will be converted to black copper oxide. Let the mixture cool in room
temperature. Rinse with a small amount of distilled water, collecting the rinse in the
Erlenmeyer flask. Together with the filter paper, transfer the black precipitate into a
funnel. Using 1 to 2 ml of distilled water rinse the flask. Discard the filtrate.

D. CONVERTING COPPER(II) OXIDE TO COPPER(II) SULFATE

Pour 6 ml of 6M H2SO4, sulfuric acid into a 50-ml beaker. Using a spatula, transfer the
black precipitate and the filter paper to the acid solution. Stir the mixture with a glass
stirring rod until the precipitate is completely dissolved. If needed, heat the solution on a
hot plate. Remove the filter paper and rinse it with 1 to 2 ml of distilled water, adding the
rinse to the green solution. Do not use metal forceps or tweezers since they will
contaminate the solution. If some precipitate is stuck on the funnel, hold it over the
beaker and rinse it with 1 to 2 ml of 6M sulfuric acid solution. Rinse the funnel with 1 to
2 ml of distilled water. This rinse should be collected in the beaker.

E. RECOVERING METALLIC COPPER

Weigh about 200 mg of zinc powder on a piece of pre-weighed weighing paper. Then
very slowly add minute portions of the powder to the Copper(II) sulfate solution. Keep
stirring after each addition. You will observe the formation of copper metal and vigorous
evolution of hydrogen gas. Test for completeness of the reaction by adding 2 to 3 drops of
your solution to 1 ml of concentrated ammonia in a small test tube. The blue color only
means that the reaction is not yet done. Add a few more small portions of zinc powder
and test again. After the reaction is complete, add 5 ml of 6 M hydrochloric acid to the
solution in the beaker and stir. This will hasten removal of excess zinc in your mixture.
Metallic copper does not react with hydrochloric acid. Allow the solution to stand for 5
minutes, stirring occasionally. Using a small funnel and a pre-weighed filter paper, first
pour the solution into the funnel then transfer the solid copper into the funnel. Use
distilled water to rinse the beaker and be sure all solid has been collected in the funnel.
Wash the copper twice with 2 ml portions of distilled water. Remove the filter paper and
copper from the funnel, spread it out on a watch glass, and allow it to air-dry. At the
beginning of the next lab period, weigh the copper and record the mass on the report
sheet. Calculate the percentage of recovery.
 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Experiment 1 pertains to the different usage of acids and bases in order to make a
solution. We repeated the experiment for 3 times for the following reasons: (1)We used a
granule instead of wire. The weight of the granule is 0.3 grams, which makes our
measurements inaccurate. (2) After putting the filter paper with a black precipitate inside
the beaker, we obtain a black solution instead of green solution. And finally, after 3 trials
of doing the experiment, we obtain the following results: (1) the process observed in the
experiment is Precipitation. Precipitation occurs in the experiment wherein a solid residue
(precipitate) is formed as a result of a chemical reaction; (2) Zinc is usually used to
extract metals that is why there is need to add it to the solution in order to recover the
Copper; (3) the purpose of the test using ammonia solution is to test whether the Copper
reacts completely with the solution and if evolution of Hydrogen has taken place; (4) HCl
acid is added to the solution to let the hydrogen evolved, thus it serves as a reducing
agent in the experiment; (5) It is not advisable to heat the Copper over the Bunsen flame
because Copper is a metal, when heated directly, it melts; (6) we obtained this percentage
yield:
0.2
100=200
0.1

Looking at the result, it does refute the Law of Conservation of Mass because there is a
change in the mass of the substance after undergoing chemical change. Law of
Conservation of Mass has been proven by numerous experiments, but in our case, since
we are students, we need a good technique to obtain the 0.1 gram of Copper.

REFERENCES

Brady, J.E, 1990. General Chemistry Principles and Structures. Von Hoffman Press, Inc.,
New York, USA. pp. 49

Brown, T.L, 2009. Chemistry: The Central Science. n: H.E. Lemay, B.E. Bursten, and
Murphy, C.J. Pearson Education, Inc., Philippines. pp. 10-11; 79-86.

Hein, M., and Arena, S., 1993. Foundations of College Chemistry. Brooks/Cole
Publishing, California, USA. pp. 69-72; 148-160.