copper practical

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Ahsin Safdar 10JN Mrs.Nisbett                                                              GNVQ Science

Copper Practical

Introduction

In this practical I will be making copper. Copper is extracted by reduction although for many purposes such as electrical wiring, copper is required in a high state of purity. For this purpose, copper is purified by electrolysis. Purification of copper by electrolysis consists of an anode made of an impure copper plate and a cathode made of a pure copper plate. The electrolyte is copper (II) sulphate solution. All of the impurities that were in the impure copper plate are collected at the bottom of the cell and are known as ‘anode mud’. This can also be refined to produce precious metals such as silver, gold and platinum.

Materials

Bunsen burner

Malachite powder (copper carbonate)

Carbon powder

Heat proof mat

Weighing scales

Beaker

Test tube

Filter paper

Cold water

Spatula

Test tube rack

Scrap paper (for using as a surface when weighing the malachite powder)

Risk Assessment

Method

  1. I put 2.5 grams of malachite powder into a large test tube and heated it gently, until it turned black and stopped rising in the test tube.
  2. I allowed the test tube to cool.
  3. I added 2.5 grams of carbon powder and mixed well.
  4. I heated the mixture strongly until it turned red.
  5. I let the mixture cool.
  6. I then separated the copper from the waste by half filling put the copper onto the filter paper to dry it. I measured the test tube with water and poured the mixture into a beaker of cold water.
  7. I then left for 2 minutes and then poured off the dirty water.
  8. I kept adding cold water to the mixture and poured off the dirty water until I saw pink copper at the bottom of the tube.
  9. I put the copper onto filter paper to dry it. I measured the mass of dried copper. This was my actual yield.
  10. I calculated my percentage yield.

Results

Calculating percentage yield

2CuCO3             2CuO +2CO2         first heating it in air

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2CuO+C        2Cu+CO2              heating with carbon

Relative atomic masses

Cu=63.5

C=12

0=16

Relative molecular mass of copper carbonate (CuCO3) = 248

Calculation= 63.5+12= (16x3) =123.5

Relative atomic mass of copper (Cu)=63.5

Actual mass of CuCO3 used=

Theoretical mass of copper produced= 127 x 2.5 x

                                                                247

Percentage yield= actual yield

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