Experiments in Inorganic Chemistry 1 for SY 2019-20

Experiment No. 10
STOICHIOMETRY of COPPER(II) OXIDE FORMATION

There are two types of chemical analysis; qualitative analysis which is the
identification of a substance present in a material, and quantitative analysis which
measures the amount of the substance. The first type of analysis was incorporated in
Experiment No. 5 while the latter will be illustrated here in this experiment.

In order for you to successfully perform this experiment you must recall your
lessons in writing, balancing and interpreting chemical equations. Also, quantitative form
of chemical analysis basically needs a deep understanding of mole and stoichiometry.
You should be able to relate the amount of the reactants with the amount of the products
or vice versa. Amount can be in terms of mole, mass, number of particles and other
quantities. In experiments we work with masses, this is how stoichiometry works.

For instance in this experiment, copper(II) oxide will be synthesized via two steps
from a known mass of copper(II) sulfate pentahydrate. In brief, copper(II) sulfate
pentahydrate will be dissolved in water and reacted using a double replacement reaction
with sodium hydroxide.

The addition of hydroxide ions to a solution containing copper (II) ions results in
the precipitation of copper (II) hydroxide.

Subsequent heating of the copper (II) hydroxide results in decomposition to

copper(II) oxide and water.

The CuO can be quantitatively filtered, dried and weighed. The overall reaction
for the sequence is:

You will perform the reaction with an accurately weighed amount of CuSO 4
5H2O. From this amount, using the relationship of the balanced equation, and other
stoichiometry you will calculate the amount of copper (II) oxide that should be formed
(theoretical yield). By performing the experiment, the experimental yield (actual yield)
is obtained and this value is compared with the theoretical yield. The ratio of the
experimental to the theoretical (times 100%) is the percent yield.

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 Experiments in Inorganic Chemistry 1 for SY 2019-20

MATERIALS

A. Equipment
hot plate, Iron stand, Clay triangle, Iron ring, Crucible tongs, Filtering funnel,
Whatman #1 filter paper or equivalent, 125-ml Erlenmeyer flask, Stirring rod,
100-ml beaker, Watch glass, Balance, Watch glass, Drying oven or light, 10-ml
graduated cylinder, wash bottle with deionized water, wire gauze, Petri dish

B. Reagents
6.0 M sodium hydroxide, CuSO4 5H2O

PRECAUTIONS

1. Always wear your safety goggles.

2. Copper compounds are toxic
3. Return or dispose of all materials according to the instructions of your professor.
4. Wash your hands thoroughly after completing this experiment.
5. Avoid contact with sodium hydroxide, it is very corrosive.
6. Read instructions for the use of hot plate.

PROCEDURE

Weigh between 1.8 and 2.2 grams of copper (II) sulfate pentahydrate in a watch
glass, to the nearest 0.01 gram. Be sure to use proper procedure for the balance used.
Record the mass of the copper (II) pentahydrate on your data table

Then, transfer carefully the chemical to your 125-ml Erlenmeyer flask using a
cone-shaped paper. Add 10 ml of distilled water to the beaker. Remember, use some of
the water to rinse any chemical that remains on the watch glass. This is quantitative so
you need to make sure everything gets transferred. Swirl the beaker to dissolve the solid.

If the entire solid is dissolved, it’s now time to add 10 ml of 6.0M NaOH to the
solution in the flask, and carefully swirl to mix. CAUTION: 6M NaOH is very caustic,
and will burn your skin.

Heat the mixture to the boiling point using a hot plate like in Figure 1. You may
protect the flask during the heating with wire gauze. Try to avoid spattering especially on
the sides or out of the flask. If spattering occurs use a wash bottle to wash all the solid
back down into the solution. Heat until the entire blue solid has been decomposed to
copper (II) oxide and water (a few minutes). Allow the mixture to cool before filtering.

Place the pre-prepared filter paper (after the corner is torn off) in a dry & clean
petri dish. If more than one person or group is conducting this experiment, label your
dish. Find the mass of the petri dish and filter paper to the nearest 0.01 g and record on
your data table.

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 Experiments in Inorganic Chemistry 1 for SY 2019-20

Open the cone with one thickness on one side, and three thickness on the other.
Set-up a filtering funnel on the ring stand & ring (a clay triangle will be of help if the ring
is too big). Place a 100-ml beaker under the funnel. While holding the filter paper in
place, use your rinse bottle to wet the paper. This will seal it to the funnel.

Now transfer the previously heated mixture to the filter with the aid of stirring
rod. Be careful, never allow the filter paper to be filled more than about 0.5 cm from the
top of the paper. Be patient and add small amounts. When all the liquid has been
transferred to the funnel, use your rinse bottle and with small amounts of water, wash all
the solid precipitate into the filter paper.

When all the liquid has filtered through the filter paper, wash the precipitate, to
remove any remaining sodium sulfate or sodium hydroxide. Use your wash bottle, and
rinse from the top of the filter paper down. Do 3 small rinses.

Now carefully remove the filter paper containing the copper (II) oxide precipitate,
and place it into the weighed Petri dish.

Place the Petri dish slightly open with the filter paper and precipitate in the drying
oven at 105 oC, or under the drying light. Allow to dry for several hours or consult your
professor. After the drying, remove the Petri dish containing the filter paper and
precipitate from the drying oven and allow cooling. Be careful it’s hot. When cool, find
the mass of the beaker, filter paper, and precipitate to the nearest 0.01 g, and record in
your data table.

5 6 5 6
4 7 4 7
3 8 3 8
2 9 2 9
1 11 10
1

Figure 1: Hot plate and Flask of mixture

Reference:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/1410/lab-C-22.html, July 9, 2007

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 Experiments in Inorganic Chemistry 1 for SY 2019-20

Pre – Lab Report No: 10

STOICHIOMETRY of COPPER(II) OXIDE FORMATION

Name: ____________________________ Group #: ______________ Score: ______

Yr. & Sec.: ________________________ Instructor: ______________ Date: _______

I. Objectives

1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________

II. Safety Measures

1. ________________________________________________________________
2. ________________________________________________________________
3. ________________________________________________________________

III. Procedure (Schematic Diagram) Use the back page.

IV. Advance Study Questions

1. Calculate the formula weight of both copper (II) pentahydrate and copper (II)
oxide.

2. Interpret the equation below. List all stoichiometric relationships of the products
and reactants.

3. In a certain experiment, 10.65 g of CuO was recovered and showed a 80.45

percent yield. What is the theoretical yield of CuO.

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 Experiments in Inorganic Chemistry 1 for SY 2019-20

Report Sheet No.10

STOICHIOMETRY of COPPER(II) OXIDE FORMATION

Name: ________________________ Date Submitted: __________ Score: ______

Yr. & Sec: _____________________ Date Performed: __________ Group No: __

DATA AND RESULTS

Table 1: Percent Yield of CuO

Details Figures
Formula weight of CuSO4 5 H2O g/mol
Formula weight of CuO g/mol
Mass of CuSO4 5 H2O g
Mass of Petri dish + filter paper g
Mass of Petri dish + filter paper + CuO precipitate g
Mass of CuO Precipitate (Actual Yield) g
Mole ratio of CuSO4 5 H2O to CuO
Theoretical Yeild of CuO g
Percent Yield %

CALCULATIONS
Show all calculations at the back of this page.

GUIDE QUESTIONS

1. What is the effect of the following on the percent yield?

a) the weighed mass of CuSO4 5 H2O is not within the specified range
_______________________________________________________________

b) the use of ordinary filter paper

_______________________________________________________________

c) the drying conducted is less than the prescribed hours

_______________________________________________________________

d) the balance used is not well calibrated

_______________________________________________________________

e) the volume of NaOH added is greater than required

_______________________________________________________________

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 Experiments in Inorganic Chemistry 1 for SY 2019-20

2. Is it possible to have a 100 % yield? Why or Why not?

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3. In this experiment, what is the limiting reagent? What is your basis?

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4. What are possible sources of errors in this experiment? What are your
corresponding recommendations?
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5. Suggest other laboratory ways to produce CuO. What are some of its uses?
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6. How important is stoichiometry? You may relate it in a specific field to cite an

example.
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