Which equation is correct?

The task set is to prove or disapprove which of the two equation is correct by thermally decomposing CuCo3 and analysing the two possible oxide formed.

Equation 1: 2CuCO3 ----> CuO(s) + 2CO2 (g) + ½O2 (g)

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

In order to do this we need to call upon previous knowledge about the mole. The key idea involved in solving this problem is collecting a volume of gas by performing safe and fair test.

One mole of gas at room temperature occupies a volume of 24dm³(litres). This is importing in information as when conducting the experiment in a classroom we have to scale it down. If we tired to prove the equation as they stood about, used one mole of Copper Carbonate and just did the above practical for this experiment, in theory we would collect 24dm³ of carbon dioxide gas and that would make way to much gas can I wouldn’t be able to find a apparatus to collect it all. We would then need to ensure that first and for most we had a big enough vessel or continuer to collect the gas in. therefore I need to use less CuCO3 to produce less gas.

“At room temperature, 25。C and atmospheric pressure at 1 atmosphere 1 mole of any gas will occupy a volume of 24dm³

Thermal decomposition is a chemical reaction where a single compound breaks up into two or simpler compound or elements when heated. It is also an endothermic reaction as heat is required to break chemical bonds in the compounds undergoing decomposition. The decomposition reaction is irreversible as the copper oxide and carbon dioxide formed after being heated cannot bond to become copper carbonate again.

If Copper carbonate form, Cu+ or Cu2+ and CO3- it created an ionic bond. Ionic bonding is when electrons are transferring electrons to another atom to form oppositely charged particles called ions which attract each other.

[Cu (NH3)4(H2O)2].

Copper lies in periods 4, d-block in the periodic table. Copper +I (Cu1+) has an electronic configuration, 1s2 22 26 32 36 42 310, Copper +II (Cu2+) has an electronic configuration is 1s2 22 26 32 36 42 39

Copper I have one more electron then Copper II. There are no physic visible differences between these two compounds. How ever e can distinguish the oxidation state by looking at their oxides. Copper I when heated and reacted turn a red compound and Copper II when heated and reacted turn into a black compound

Join now!

Calculation

RMM (relative molecular mass) of copper carbonate (CuCo3) =64 +12+ (16×3)

As we also know that  ‘At room temperature and pressure (r.t.p), 298K (25。C) and 100kPa, 1 mole of any gas will occupy 24dm³ or 24000cm³’

Therefore if 1 mole is 24000cm³ V= n × 24000

 1 mole is 24000cm³ then 1/24000 is 1cm³

The compound copper carbonate, CuCO3 decomposes on heating to form one of these oxides and two equations provided for possible reaction are:

Expressing equation (1) chemical reaction in terms of 1 mole we get:

CuCO3 (s)     ½ Cu2O ...

This is a preview of the whole essay