Shannon Keith

Chem 201
2003 Jan 29
An exploration of the properties of copper
Introduction
Copper, like the elements directly below it in the periodic table, silver and gold, is found in
nature in elemental form. All three metals are comparatively malleable with a high sheen.
These qualities make copper, silver and gold some of the most commonly used metals in
utensils and jewelry. Its unusual electron configuration gives copper many of its properties.
Instead of having an electron configuration of [Ar] 4s2 3d9, one electron that is expected to be
in the 4s orbital is actually in the 3d orbital creating a configuration of [Ar] 4s1 3d10. This
aspect of copper also applies to silver and gold. Many of the aspects that these elements have
in common are a result of this similarity.
Several copper alloys, which are mixtures of copper and another metal, are commonly
used throughout history and today. Copper and its durable tin alloy, bronze, became used in
large amounts when a method of producing the pure copper metal by reducing copper ions
using carbon in the form of coal was discovered1. Reaction 1 shows this reduction reaction,
where C is charcoal and CuO is copper oxide from copper ore.
Reaction 1
Reduction half-reaction
Cu2+ + 2e- Cu
Oxidation half reaction
C C4+ + 4e-

Net reaction
2CuO + C CO2(g) + 2Cu
Brass is another copper alloy that consists of copper and zinc. In ancient times, brass
was produced by mixing copper with zinc oxide (ZnO) and Carbon1. In this reaction, copper
reduces the zinc (shown in Reaction 2) and then was reduced itself by carbon as seen in
Reaction 1 (c).
Reaction 2
ZnO + Cu Zn + Cu 2+ + O2Copper, like other metals, forms positive ions (as opposed to negative ions) because
the orbital with the electrons of the highest energy is filled, and because of its relatively low
electro-negativity. The ion it most commonly forms is Cu2+, but it also forms Cu+ and Cu3+
ions. In its ionic form, copper is generally blue in color, so certain compounds with these ions
make attractive pigments. One such pigment is Azurite. This pigment (2CuCO3, Cu(OH)2) is
formed when copper is oxidized to Cu2+ and added to a solution containing CO32- ions. When
heated in solution, the reaction, which forms azurite, is driven further to produce Malachite
(CuCO3, Cu(OH)2. This modification causes the compound to appear green so malachite is
also used as a pigment.
The bright surface of copper is quickly corroded by environmental factors causing the
metal to appear dull. One environmental factor that can corrode it is heat. Since copper is
frequently used in cooking utensils, this corrosion is commonly recognizable. The heat excites
the outer electrons of the element allowing the atom to be more easily oxidized by oxygen in
the air. First, copper loses one electron to oxygen forming Cu+ and O2-. These ions then bond
forming red Cu2O as seen in Reaction 3.

Reaction 3
4Cu + O2 2Cu2O
If the heating continues, copper is further oxidized by oxygen forming Cu2+ and O2-. These
ions form black CuO as in Reaction 4.
Reaction 4
Cu + O2 4CuO
Both red Cu2O and black CuO form on the surface of the metal discoloring it. However, this
layer also forms a barrier between the metal and oxygen in the air preventing further
oxidation.
Corrosion and corrosive materials can be removed (or even reversed in some cases)
using electro-chemical reductiona method frequently employed in cleaning and restoring
metal artifacts. In this process, caustic soda is dissolved in water as the electrolyte or salt
bridge. Then the object to be restored is buried in a pile of granulated zinc (or zinc powder for
fine materials). The system is then heated to stimulate a faster reaction and to disrupt the
formation of a copper metal crust on the object. The zinc oxidizes the copper ions forming
copper metal and zinc ions. The muddy copper particles are then cleared away (191-194)2.
Removal of corrosion materials is one example of a use for copper oxidationreactions. Another use is etching to make prints and to decorate jewelry. In etching, a pattern
is made by protecting areas of the copper with a substance insoluble in the etching solution
and leaving other areas exposed. When the copper is submerged in the etching solution, only
the exposed areas of copper are corroded. Therefore, the pattern remains in raised areas of the
metal. In jewelry-making these patterns are the final product.

In printmaking, however, ink is applied the etched metal and then transferred onto a
base, such as paper, to form an indefinite number of final products. The application of ink can
be accomplished in two ways. First, the pattern made in the etching process consists of very
thin grooves where the copper has been reduced. Ink is forced into these grooves and the
paper is pressed onto the metal so that the ink is transferred onto the paper. Second, ink is
spread on the raised portion of the etching and then is transferred onto the paper.
The trick of a successful etching is using a solution that will spontaneously reduce
copper. The ions that will reduce a metal can be predicted through reduction potentials.
Reduction potential is a number found experimentally and assigned to reduction half-reactions
to describe the energy involved in those reactions. Since potential is the charged difference
between two cells, the potential of one electrode cannot be measured. However, the reduction
potential of the reduction of hydrogen ions to hydrogen atoms (shown in Reaction 5) has been
assigned as 0.00. This provides a standard on which to base the assigned values of reduction
potentials of all other reactions.
Reaction 5
2H+ + 2e_ H2
A voltmeter placed between two electrodes of an electrochemical cell records the potential of
the cell. Reaction 6 shows the relationship between cell potential, reduction potential and
oxidation potential.
Reaction 6
Potentialcell = Reduction potential + Oxidation potential
Since oxidation is the reverse of reduction, oxidation potential is the inverse of the reduction
potential of a half-reaction. Therefore, by finding experimentally the potential of a cell with

one hydrogen electrode and subtracting the oxidation potential of a hydrogen electrode (0.00),
the reduction potential of the reduction half-reaction of the cell is found. Accordingly, the
potential of a cell can be found using the standard reduction and oxidation potentials of the
half-reactions of a cell. If a cells potential is positive the reaction is spontaneous and energy
is produced, not absorbed by the reaction. Therefore, whether an atom will be reduced by a
particular ion is predictable.
Through the method described above we can predict whether iron(III) ions, tin(II) ions
or nitrate ions will reduce copper. Table 1 below shows the reduction potentials3 of the ions
involved and the oxidation-reduction reactions of copper with these ions are shown in
Reaction 7.
Table 1
Reaction
Cu2+ + 2e- Cu
NO3- + 4H+ 4e- NO + H2O
Sn2+ + 2e- Sn
Fe3+ + 3e- Fe+

Reduction potential (volts)

0.34
.96
-0.14
0.77

Reaction 7
Cu + 2NO3- Cu2+ + NO3

a)
b)

Cu + Fe3+ Cu2+ + Fe+

c)

Cu + Sn2+ Cu2+ + Sn

The calculated cell potential for Reaction 7 (a) is:

-0.34 V + 0.96 V = 0.62 V
The calculated cell potential for reaction 7 (b) is:
-0.34 V + 0.77V = 0.43V
The calculated cell potential for reaction 7 (c) is:

-0.34 V + -0.14 V = -0.48 V

From the positive signs of their electron potentials we can see that reactions 7 (a) and (b) will
take place spontaneously while reaction 7 (c) with a negative reduction potential will not. The
experimental results support this prediction. Copper was etched by Nitric acid and ferric
chloride, but not by stannous chloride.
We can also use this method to look at the restoration topic described above in which
copper ions resulting from the corrosion of copper metal are reduced by zinc metal. The
reduction potential of zinc(II) ions to zinc metal is 0.76 V, therefore its oxidation potential is
0.76 V. As seen above the reduction potential of copper(II) ions to copper metal is 0.34 V.
Since the sum of these potentials is 1.1 V, the reaction is spontaneous3.
Conclusion
This paper has explored many qualities and reactions of copper. Much of what has been
discussed can be applied to elements besides copper. Like copper, other transition metals are
frequently used in pigments. Etching and reduction potentials too can be applied to chemical
reactions in general.

References
1.

Department of Chemistry [Internet]. Edmonton (Canada): University of Alberta;

c2003 [cited 2003 Jan 19]. Available from: http://www.chem.ualberta.ca

2.

Plenderleith HJ. The Conservation of antiquities and works of art: Treatment, repair,
and restoration. London (England): Oxford University Press; 1956.

3.

Zumdahl SS. Chemical Principles. 3rd ed. Boston (MA): Houghton Mifflin; 1998.