Copper Cycle Synthesis

In this experiment, the evolution of the copper cycle was observed through a series of reactions. Four different copper compounds are formed through different reactions to inevitably lead to the recovery of Cu(s). This primary goal of this experiment was to study the Law of Conservation of Mass and perform 5 reactions on copper compounds. As Jenna Winterberg states in her book “Conservation of Mass,” the first part of this law is that mass or matter cannot be created. The second part of the law is that mass or matter cannot be destroyed . To better understand this law, Cu(s) was transformed with different reactions only to return back to Cu s). The initial and final mass of Cu(s) was recorded to give the percent recovery of copper product at

In this reaction NaOH was added to the Cu(NO3)2. The solution developed a precipitate which made the clear solution become cloudy and uniform in color (blue). The physical color change was demonstrated through the formation of the precipitate. The third step was the formation of CuO. In this reaction, the Cu(OH)2 product was heated on a hot plate and stirred continuously until the solution became colorless and a dark precipitate formed. The heating of the solution caused the reaction to start which decomposed Cu(OH)2 and made the solution colorless and darkened the precipitate. The fourth step was the formation of CuSO4. After the solution was decanted from the precipitate and washed with near boiling water, 6 M H2SO4 was added to the beaker containing Copper (II) Oxide and this caused the precipitate to dissolve and the liquid become clear blue. The last step was the formation of Cu(s). This step recovered Solid elemental copper. Al(s) wire was placed in the solution from the last step and 5 drops of HCl along with a stir bar was added to the beaker and this was stirred on the hot plate. Cu(s) precipitate formed on the wire and the solution turned from clear to cloudy until it eventually become a brownish red color. When the reaction was complete the Al(s) wire was scraped with the stirring rod to get off any residual Copper product. All of the reactions except for reaction 3 were exothermic. This is because each reaction gave