Extracting copper from malachite (copper carbonate) by using a redox reaction

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Richard Aldridge 10 Gordon

Extracting copper from malachite (copper carbonate) by using a redox reaction

Aim

Our aim is to extract copper from copper carbonate using a redox reaction.

What is a redox reaction

Reduction equals loss of oxygen

Oxidation is the gain of oxygen

O-Oxidation

I-is

L-loss

                                OF ELECTRONS

R-reduction

I-is

G-gain

Prediction

 When I heat copper carbonate I expect it to turn from green to black because it’s changing the copper oxide. The copper carbonate is being reduced.

Copper oxide + carbon                           carbon dioxide + copper

      2CuO             C                CO2        2Cu

      Black               Pink

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Copper oxide will be reduced to turn into copper as it loses oxygen. This is called a redox reaction.

(Science diagrams)

Method

  1. Put 1.5g of malachite powder into a large test tube and heat it gently until it turns black and stops rising in the test tube.
  2. Allow the tube time to cool
  3. Add 1.5g of carbon powder and mix well.
  4. Heat the mixture strongly until it turns red and you can see some of the pink copper.
  5. Let the mixture cool.
  6. Separate the copper from the waste by half ...

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Punctuation, grammar and spelling all to a good level. The candidate uses a clear, easy to read format with good use of subheadings.

The candidate introduces and explains a redox reaction in good basic terms what I would expect from this level. The candidate incorrectly uses chemical notation. I'm not sure about the colour changes as they contradict themselves in their prediction and then in the experiment notation. Equations are done accurately. Their colour changes become more apparent during the method so this should be made clearer earlier on in the text. Their method is done well and is easy to read and understand. The sources of error are explained well and possible improvements also suggested. Percentage yield is calculated well but the decimal places used are not consistent, and this should happen to make the calculation as accurate as possible. They evaluate the experiment well.

The focus of the question and the layout of the experiment is done very well for this level of essay. The candidate considers things that may go wrong in the experiment and accounts for them. They relate their data and observations to scientific equations which is good to show a linked understanding of the procedure of the experiment.