Valentina Gutierrez

Liz Schibuk
Chemistry
April 2, 2014
COPPER MINING LAB

Background

Individuals often do not think twice about the materials that make up the devices they use
on a day to day basis. Even less often do they stop and consider the processes necessary to
retrieve those materials. However, as those processes affect more and more of the surrounding
environment, it is crucial that society becomes aware of the dangers associated with the retrieval
of substances that make up machine parts.
One of the materials mined in order to make gadgets is copper. Coppers advantageous
properties are widespread and therefore copper is used in many ways. According to the article,
Copper by Oresome Resources, which is a specialized educator in minerals and energy, copper
is an exceptional conductor of heat and electricity. Copper is also able to be hammered and
pressed permanently out of shape without it breaking or cracking. Furthermore, it is impervious
to rust. Due to coppers significant attributes as a conductor of electricity, it is used in a variety
of handheld devices and televisions. As a conductor of heat, copper is also used in an assortment
of heaters, air conditioners, and even kitchen pans. In addition to all of this, copper is used to
make a variety of coins, jewelry, tubes, and equipment. Obviously, this metal is used in a wide
variety of tools that are used on a regular basis and that are necessary in the modern world.
However, how often do individuals really reflect on the origin of this precious transition metal?
The process of copper mining is long and complicated. Copper is found in an ore, which
is a rock with necessary metal, mineral, or other resource lodged in it. A common copper ore,
called malachite, can be found in open holes, where it must be dug up. However, copious
amounts of waste and useless rock must be unearthed before it is even reached. In video
4.8,Copper Mining, it is noted that for every tonne of copper that is produced during copper
mining, 99 tonnes of waste are produced alongside it, therefore, it is important to be aware of the
consequences that are a result of an inefficient process to obtain the highly useful metal that is
copper. After a long process of unearthing and crushing the ore into tailings, the procedure
continues. In order to remove the copper from the tailings, a chemical solvent, which is a
substance that is used to dissolve a solid in a liquid, must be used in order to dissolve the waste.
One example of a chemical solvent which is used is Sulfuric Acid, an extremely toxic
substance. Toxicity is how poisonous a substance is, and believe it or not, all substances are toxic
at their lethal dose. In regards to this, lethal dose refers to the specific amount of material that
could cause death to 50% of the life exposed to it. Lethal dose is represented by the variable
LD
50
. However, the lethal dose of a substance is dependent on each different substance,
therefore, in order to measure it, scientists expose it to small animals, then take into account the
mass of a person, and estimate the lethal dosage for a human of any size. LD
50

is communicated
in milligrams of a substance per kilogram of body mass. When this equation is taken into
consideration, an individual can find that any substance can be deadly, even ones that are often
considered beneficial to humans.
The operation of acquiring copper continues, as the solid waste is separated from the
solution of sulfuric acid and copper ions - ions, are molecules with a negative or a positive
charge. After the solid waste is set apart, the mixture of copper and acid is referred to as filtrate.
A metal, such as zinc or silver, is then added to the filtrate, in order to cause a single replacement
reaction. Consequently, the copper ions become solid, and the added metal turns into an aqueous
solution, which is a solution in which the solvent is water. However, the solid copper is still in an
acidic mixture of sulfuric acid, zinc, and silver. This is problematic because, for one, the
chemical solvents necessary to dissolve the waste and remove the actual copper from the tailings
are extremely detrimental to the environment. Sulfuric Acid, for example, is already
exceptionally toxic all on its own. sulfuric acid can seep into the environment, leading to
disastrous effects on aquatic life. Furthermore, sulfuric acid also extracts lead, arsenic, and
copper ions out from the ore. Lead and arsenic are exceedingly toxic to surrounding habitats.
Even the copper ions extracted from the ore are considered harmful to the surrounding aquatic
life.
In order to offset the complications produced in the encompassing environment, a basic
solution, which is a solution with hydroxide, and that has a pH above 7, must be added to the
acidic solution, which is a compound with hydrogen, and a pH below 7. The reaction causes the
hydroxide and hydrogen ions to come together to form water, and the remaining elements form
an ionic compound, simply known as a salt. However, without this essential piece of the
procedure being completed, the ecosystem suffers horribly.
The oceans and marine animals are greatly impacted by the chemicals released through
the process of mining for copper. Namely, the production leads to ocean acidification, which
according to Roberta Kwok, in the article, When the Nose No Longer Knows, leads to the
damage of many fish species sense of smell. This leads to their death, as they rely on their sense
of smell to avoid predators, spot food, and mate. According to Sea Changes by Stephen Ornes,
ocean acidification also affects a variety of other species, such as the sea butterfly. In addition to
this, a study held in 2007 by researchers, and featured in the article Sea Changes, coral grew in
the acidic water, however, it had completely died after only a year in the water - unusual,
considering the fact that coral can live to be hundreds of years old. The aftermath of copper
mining, and other operations similar to it, are destroying the earths oceans and threatening
animal life.
Not only is copper mining jeopardizing the life of fish, it is also putting at risk the lives of
humans in the Congo and other parts of Africa. According to the article, Is Your Phone a Cause
of War, by Nicholas D. Kristof, this is because the minerals, like copper, used in modern
technology and appliances, is mined for in these countries, and then sold to companies in the
United States. These minerals are referred to as Blood Diamonds because they fund the groups
in power, which use the money to maintain constant war in their countries. Kristof reveals to the
world the atrocities committed with the wealth that is produced by the sale of these important
minerals, he says he has seen, women who've been mutilated, children who've been forced to
eat their parents' flesh, and girls who've been subjected to rapes that destroyed their insides.
Various warlords, each vying for control, finance their armies and this abuse in part through the
sale of mineral ore.
Unquestionably, the business of mining for ore is one that brings many violent
drawbacks. Therefore, it is important that consumers educate themselves on how they are
contributing to the demolition of the ocean, and the number of lives lost in the Congo, so that
they may consider demanding a positive change.











Part 1: Building a Copper Mine

PROCEDURE
Assemble the following materials in a beaker, in the following order.
You must wear safety goggles and gloves at all times.

Layer 1: Add about 0.5 cm of Copper Sulfate (CuSO
4
) crystals (Root Killer)
Cover with water
Cover with filter paper
Layer 2: Add about 0.5 cm of Sodium Chloride crystals
Cover with water
Cover with filter paper
Add a few dashes of iron fillings
Add a small layer of pebbles.
Cover with parafilm, but pierce with a few holes.
Cover with water
Record initial observations.






















OBSERVATIONS

Day 1 Day 2

Multiple layers of material.
Clear distinction between materials.
Blue Copper.
Green Sodium Chloride crystals.
Clear layer of pebbles.

No clear boundaries between
materials.
Some pebbles have disappeared.
Black and brown residue has built up
on the bottom.
Red residue separates black residue
and pebbles.

Day 3 Day 4

Black residue has mixed in with the
red material and pebbles.
White material has slightly built up on
the bottom of the beaker.






ANALYSIS

Write the dissolution reaction for the root killer (CuSO
4
) in the bottom layer of the
beaker.

CuSO
4(s)
Cu
2+
(aq)
+ SO
4
2-
(aq)


Copper Sulfate
(s)
Copper
(aq)
+ Sulfuric Acid
(aq)


Write the dissolution reaction for the sodium chloride (NaCl) in the second layer of the
beaker.

NaCl
(s)
Na
+
(aq)
+ Cl
-
(aq)



Write a balanced single replacement reaction for what is happening between the CuSO
4

solution and the iron (Fe) metal.

3CuSO
4 (aq)
+ 2Fe
(s)
3Cu
(s)
+ Fe
2
(SO
4
)
3 (aq)






















Part 2: Extracting Copper Metal from Malachite Ore

PRE-LAB NOTES:
Apparatus:
FILTRATE
FILTRATE

Safety:
Sulfuric Acid
DIRECTIONS:
DAY 1:
Record your observations of the crushed malachite ore.
Find and record the mass of your sample of crushed malachite ore on top of it.
Add the crushed malachite to a beaker.
Cover the malachite with sulfuric acid.
Record your observations.
DAY 2:
Place a beaker under the funnel to collect the filtrate, as shown in the diagram on the
previous page. Filter the malachite pieces out of the reaction mixture by pouring it
through a piece of filter paper sitting inside of a funnel.
Remove the filter paper, and set it out to dry. Use a permanent marker to put your initials
on the filter paper.
Take about half of your filtrate, and pour it into one of the two flasks that I have
labelled as copper mining waste. We will need some of this filtrate for part 3 of the
lab!
Separate your remaining filtrate into 2 test tubes.
Add a few dashes of Fe (iron) to one of the test tubes with filtrate. Record your
observations.
Add a few pieces of Zn (zinc) metal to the second test tubes with filtrate. Record your
observations.
Cover your beaker with parafilm, put your names on it, and leave it on the back table.
DAY 3:
Determine and record the mass of the dried malachite waste.
Take a second set of observations of your filtrate in each of the two test tubes.
Throw out your malachite waste.
Thoroughly clean your lab supplies.






DATA TABLE:
Observations Mass
Crushed Ore
Big rocks
Small rocks
Teal Powder
Orange and Brown colored pebbles
69.0 grams
Malachite powder and Opaque blue liquid
sulfuric acid After some minutes, opaque liquid
lightened and cleared enough to make
rocks visible.
Bubbles on rocks and tube.
Malachite solid waste
1 big rock with blue and orange residue
Smaller pebbles
64.9 grams
Filtrate Transparent blue liquid
Filtrate plus iron (Fe)
OBSERVATION 1
Bubbles popping
Black pebbles on bottom (iron)


OBSERVATION 2
Black iron on bottom that look similar to
rock
Liquid has a clear appearance at first, and
then turns brown.

Filtrate plus zinc (Zn)
OBSERVATION 1
Numerous bubbles moving fast
Big black rocks


OBSERVATION 2
Liquid is clear, unlike blue waste
Black material on bottom


ANALYSIS
Below are the chemical reactions that take place in this lab: The first is the reaction that occurs
when you mix sulfuric acid with the malachite. The second is the reaction that occurs when you
add zinc to the filtrate. The third is the reaction that occurs when you add zinc to the filtrate.
The third is the reaction that occurs when you add iron to the filtrate.
The first reactions are already balanced, without needing to add any coefficients.
Balance the third reaction. Show your work.

CuCO
3(aq)
+ H
2
SO
4(aq)
CuSO
4 (aq)
+ CO
2(g)
+ H
2
O
(l)


CuSO
4(aq)
+ Zn
(s)
Cu
(s)
+ ZnSO
4 (aq)


3 CuSO
4(aq)
+ 2 Fe
(s)
3 Cu
(s)
+ Fe
2
(SO
4
)
3(aq)


REACTANTS PRODUCTS
Cu 1 3 1 3
SO
4
1 3 3
Fe 1 2 2

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
What percentage of the rock sample ended up as solid waste?
49 grams9 grams 00
94 % of the initial rock sample ended up as solid waste.

What by-products are generated when we mine for copper? Use the chemical reactions
to guide you.
When mining for copper, an extensive amount of water, Zinc Sulfate, and Iron Sulfate
are produced. In the reaction between the sulfuric acid and the malachite, it is evident that
a gaseous form of Carbon Dioxide is produced (CO
2
).

Part 3: Treating Acidic Runoff
Determine the pH of your acid waste, using pH paper. Record the pH here: 3
.
Add 3-4 drops of universal indicator solution. Note the color: Orange

Pour a little bit of NaOH into your beaker.
Determine the pH of your NaOH, using pH paper. Record the pH here: 12
.
Add 3-4 drops of universal indicator solution to the beaker. Note the color: Blue/Purple
.
Slowly start adding NaOH to your acid waste, until the solution has been neutralized.
Once your waste is neutralized, double check the pH with pH paper. Note the pH: 7
Once youre done, pour the waste down the drain with lots of water.
DISCUSSION

What did you do to clean up the acidic waste produced in this lab?
In order to purify the acidic waste produced in this lab, a base, NaOH, was added to the
sulfuric acid, H
2
SO
4
. The hydrogen ion from the acid combined with the hydroxide ion from the
base, thus producing water. The remaining chemicals came together to form a salt, which is
simply an ionic compound. By producing water and a salt, the reaction was neutralized.
Therefore, it was no longer acidic. By cleaning up this waste, the environment would no longer
be affected by the acidic run-off of the acidic chemical solvents necessary to separate the copper
from the malachite.
How could you tell when your waste was fully neutralized?
An individual could tell that the waste was fully neutralized after the indicator solution
had been added. Once the indicator solution was added to the mixture of the acid and the base, it
reached a yellow color, which signaled on the color key that the chemicals had reached a pH of
7, the point of complete neutralization.
The acid in your toxic waste is leftover H
2
SO
4
(sulfuric acid). You neutralized the waste
by adding NaOH (sodium hydroxide). Write the balanced neutralization reaction for
mixing sulfuric acid with sodium hydroxide.

2NaOH + H
2
SO
4
Na
2
SO
4
+ 2H
2
O

Base + Acid Salt + Water


Conclusion:
Over the course of this lab, I gained knowledge about chemical reactions, and was forced
to connect them to the world at large. Through this, I was able to realize how directly the modern
human lifestyle is damaging to the planet today. For example, that the production of minerals
through mining leads to ocean acidification, and the destruction of the environment.
Furthermore, the consumption of such compounds leads to death in foreign countries. Had I not
first understood the chemical reactions that led to these results, I would not have connected the
ideas easily. Moreover, I have learned that the simple production and purchasing of devices that
are use on a daily basis, is contributing to the troubles of our earth. By using chemistry, we can
not only inform ourselves of the dangers, we can also use chemistry to find solutions.


Works Cited

Copper, Oresome Resources, N.D., Web, April 1, 2014.

Kwok, Roberta. When the Nose No Longer Knows, Science News For Kids, Dec. 13, 2012,
Web, April 1, 2014.

Kristof, Nicholas D. Is Your Phone A Cause of War? Upfront Magazine, November 8, 2010,
Web, April 2, 2014.

Ornes, Stephen. Sea Changes, Science News For Kids, April 7, 2011, Web, April 2, 2014.

Schibuk, Liz. 4.8 - Copper Mining, Blackstone Academy - Sophomore Website, March 3,
2013,Web, April 3, 2014.