Shown below are some equations related to this reaction-
2CuCO3 2Cuo + 2Co2
2Cuo + C 2Cu + Co2
Safety
- I had worn goggles while using the Bunsen burner.
- I was careful while using the Malachite powder as it was labelled harmful.
- Long hair of were tied back wile using the Bunsen burner.
- While I was dealing with the Copper Carbonate I was careful as it s an irritant.
- I was careful while handling the test tube.
- Hands were washed before and after the experiment.
Equipment
- Malachite powder.
- Carbon.
- Test tube.
- Large Beaker.
- Filter paper.
- Bunsen burner.
- Bunsen stand.
- Glass rod.
Conclusion
Calculation of the cost-
Copper Carbonate = £10.20p per 500g 4g = 0.02
Carbon = £2 per 500g 4g = 0.02
Test tube = 0.18
Beaker = 2.00
Gas = 0.80p per hour 1/2hr = 0.40
Labour = £10.00 per hr 1 hour = 10.00
Filter paper = £1.30 for 100 1 = 0.13
Total cost = £14.01
We made = 0.07g
Per gram = 14.01/ 0.07 = £2.14p
Results
Calculation of the yield-
Relative Atomic mass = Copper = 63.5g
Oxygen = 16g
Carbon = 12g
Relative molecular mass for Copper Carbonate CuCo3 = 63.5 + (3x16) = 63.5 + 48 = 123.5g
123.5g of Copper Carbonate should make 63.5 of copper.
5g of Copper Carbonate was used.
Theoretical yield = 5 x 63.5 / 123.5 = 2.57g of copper.
Actual yield = 0.07 / 2.57 x 100 = 2.57%.
Some other important equation used in the experiment as given below-
Copper Carbonate Copper Oxide + Carbon di Oxide
2CuCo3 2Cuo + 2Co2
Copper Oxide + Carbon Copper + Carbon di Oxide
Cuo + C Cu + Co2
Evaluation
The reason why we didn’t get 100% yield is mentioned below-
- Firstly, when I had to measure out the Carbon and the Malachite powder I could have made a mistake in mistake which would have lead my experiment inaccurate.
- Secondly, while I was heating the test tube some of the Malachite powder could have popped out while it was raising, again leading my experiment inaccurate.
- Thirdly, while I was separating the Copper from its waste, some of the Copper might have been thrown down the drain while I was throwing away the dirty water until I could see the Pink copper at the bottom of the test tube.
- Lastly, when I was to put the dried Copper onto the filter paper some of it might have remained in the test tube.
Vocational Aspects
In the industry, they would use an easier and much simpler way of extracting copper as they would heat it u in a blast furnace and they would have a lot more people doing this job.
This way it would be much easier and quicker to do their job because there would be a lot more people doing the same job. They would have a small place for heating things up and it would be a lot cheaper. The industrial processes are described below-
- Crush the ore into 25cm pieces.
- Using water and a 13cm steel ball the ore is ground into 1cm pieces.
- Froth floatation concentration the ore with unwanted rock setting out.
- Copper ore is then burnt with oxygen in a flash furnace to produce matte.
- The iron is taken off as a slag. Sulphur then comes off as Sulphur dioxide.
- The copper melt is cast into anodes.
- Anodes in copper sulphate are electro and are the refined.
Blast Furnace
The purpose of a blast furnace is to chemically reduce and physically convert iron oxides into liquid iron called ‘Hot Metal’. The blast furnace is huge, steel stack lined with refractory brick, where iron ore, coke and limestone are dumped into the top, and preheated air is blown into the bottom. The raw material requires around 6- 8 hours to descend to the bottom of the furnace where they become the final product of liquid slag and liquid iron. These liquid products are drained from the furnace at regular intervals. The hot air that was blown into the bottom of the furnaces ascends to the top in 6- 8 hours after going through numerous chemical reactions. Once a blast furnace is started, it will continuously run for four to ten years with a short stop for maintenance.
Image for Blast Furnace
Definitions related to Extraction
Metallurgy – This is a process that involves the extraction of metals from their ores and refining them is known as Metallurgy.
Minerals – The natural material in which the metals or their compounds occur in the earth are called minerals.
Ores – Those minerals from which the metals can be extracted profitably are called Ores.
Gangue – The rocky impurities and earthly particles, present in an ore are called Gangue.
Extraction of Aluminium
Aluminium is extracted from purified Aluminium oxide by electrolysis. However, Aluminium Oxide has a high melting point and is readily not soluble in water.
Aluminium Extraction
At the working temperature of the cell, the oxygen reacts with the Carbon of the anode to produce the Carbon di oxide. The anode therefore, has to be replaced frequently. At this process it requires a large amount of electricity which is an inexpensive source.
