Which equation is correct?

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Which equation is correct?

Aim:


Copper has two oxides, Cu2O and CuO.

Copper carbonate, CuCO3, decomposes on heating to form one of these oxides and an equation can be written for each possible reaction:

Equation 1:   2CuCO3 (s)                         Cu2O(s) + 2CO2(g) + ½ O2 (g)

Equation 2:   CuCO3 (s)                 CuO(s) + CO2 (g)

I must determine which equation is correct.

Introduction:

From the two equations we can see when copper carbonate is heated or decomposed gases are given off. To find which equation is correct we can use ideas about moles, plan and design an experiment to measure a volume of gas that will prove which of the two equations is correct.

Therefore to find out the correct equation I will need to decompose the copper carbonate by heating and after this I will measure the amount of gas produced. The volume of gas will help me determine which equation is correct.

  • It is possible to determine which equation is correct by measuring the volume of gas given off by the decomposition.

Measuring the volume of gas will tell me which equation is correct from above. I will need to measure the mass of copper carbonate as this will tell me the amount of copper carbonate needed in grams for the experiment and if it is correct it will show me what equation is correct. Also the volume of gas given off depends upon the molar quantities.  

Equation 1:   2CuCO3 (s)                         Cu2O(s) + 2CO2(g) + 1\  2 O2 (g)

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Equation 2:   CuCO3 (s)                 CuO(s) + CO2 (g)

Equation 2:

Gas used in experiment -30cm³

1 mole of any gas occupies 24000cm³

Therefore, the first thing I will need to do is find the moles. This is because the moles of copper carbonate are required to produce 30cm³ of gas.

Gas used in experiment                     30           

The amount of which 1                 ...

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