15: One-pot Copper Reactions

Copper is a brown-red metal which was probably the first metal to be used by humans. Copper’s symbol comes from Latin cuprum meaning cyprian, as most metals used by the Romans were imported from Cyprus. Copper is the 26th most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. It is a transition metal and forms two ions, Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺. The reactions you are about to do in the beaker involve Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺ ions.

What you will need

Solutions of: copper nitrate, sodium hydroxide, ammonia, dilute hydrochloric acid, sodium sulphide, sodium carbonate, potassium iodide, sodium thiosulphate, dilute sulphuric acid, hydrogen peroxide, de-ionised water

50cm³ or 100cm³ beaker
disposable pipettes

eye protection
What you do
Follow the instructions carefully and write down your observations in the space opposite each step.

1.
Places 20 drops of copper nitrate solution in a beaker. Record your observations here

2. Add 10 drops of sodium carbonate solution to the beaker.

3. Add 12 drops of dilute hydrochloric acid

4. Corrosive
Add 3 drops of Sodium Hydroxide solution

5. Add 15 drops of dilute sulphuric acid

6. Add 5 drops of potassium iodide solution

7. Slowly add 5 drops of sodium thiosulphate solution

8. Irritant
Slowly add 15 drops of ammonia solution

9. Add 1 drop of hydrogen peroxide solution

10. Corrosive
Add 5 drops of sodium sulphide solution

eye protection must be worn

IRRITANT
ammonia solution

CORROSIVE
sodium hydroxide solution
sodium sulphide solution

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