CHEM 122L

November 19, 2010

Synthesizing Cuprous Chloride

By mixing elemental Copper with certain acids and causing direct oxidation, we synthesized Cuprous
Chloride (CuCl). We gleaned our solid product by separating with a Buchner Funnel; although care was
taken to wash primarily with HCl before H2O, we still obtained only a final yield of 3.1% (2.0808g).

Introduction

The element Copper was one of the earliest to be identified in antiquity and much is
known regarding its properties, including the two common cations it forms. The
oxidation and reduction process of forming the less common CuCl compound has
clearly defined procedures. In this lab, this was done by processing the copper with
nitric acid in order to create Cu(NO3), precipitating the salt CuCO3, and then reducing
with HCl to CuCl.

Experimental Data

• Combin
15M HN
under fu
distilled
allowed
created
resulted

• Weighe
and stirr
form blu
(acid ne
w/Buch
washed
HCl. So

• Placed s
beaker,
(10mL)
and cop
Materia
after HC
beaker w
placed o
turned b

• Raised s
to boilin
 minutes
became
into prev
of distill
Resultin
white.

• Filtered
w/Buch
with chi
(25mL)
Washed
before w
fine whi
CuCl (2

Observational addition: malachite sample was very dark green w/lighter inclusions; azurite was
vivid blue with pale greenish-yellow larger inclusions and brown traces.

Data Analysis

CuCl yield,
theoretical and actual:

Theoretical yield (which seems HIGHLY unlikely—we must have made an error somewhere!)

1.0481g (1 mol/ 63.546g) (4 mol HNO3/ 1 mol Cu) (1 mol Cu(NO3)2/ 1 mol HNO3) =
0.0660 mol
0.0660mol Cu(NO3)2 (1 mol Cu2+/ 1 mol Cu(NO3)2) = 0.0660 mol Cu2+
0.0660 mol
Cu2+ (1 mol CuCO3/ 1 mol Cu2+) = 0.0660 mol CuCO3
0.0660 mol CuCO3 (4 mol Cl-/ 1 mol CuCO3) (1 mol CuCl42-/ 1 mol Cl-) = 0.2639 mol
CuCl42-
0.2639 mol CuCl42- ( 4 mol Cl-/ 1 mol CuCl42-) (2 mol CuCl43-/ 1 mol Cl-) = 2.111 mol
CuCl43-
2.111 mol CuCl43- (1 mol CuCl43-/2 mol CuCl43-) (1 CuCl/ 1 mol CuCl43-) = 1.056 mol
CuCl

Our actual yield by percentage seems much more reasonable, although we probably did lose a
substantial quantity of product during transfer of solid materials from Buchner Funnel to
beaker and during washings.

2.0808g/
63.546g/mol = .0327mol
0.0327mol/
1.056mol = .031(100) = 3.1%
Conclusion
We were meticulous in following the procedural steps of this experiment, yet
according to our data analysis our yield was substantially lacking. I believe this
incongruity to have two possible causes: 1) the product is exposed to both air and
moisture at several points during the procedure, which the instructor warned can
cause the undesired result—and 2) our math process has an error we were not able to
discover and correct.

Post Lab Questions

1) Cu2CO3(OH)2 ~ 2 CuO + CO2 + H2O

Cu = +2 ~ Cu = +2
CuO + CO ~ Cu + CO2
Cu = +2 ~ Cu = 0 C = +4 O = +2

Neither equation involves Reduction of Cu. The first results in no change, the second
results in oxidization of Cu.

2) Cu(s) ~ Cu(NO3)2 (aq)

Cu = 0 ~ Cu = +2

Cu is oxidized in above equation.

3) See attached.
4) CuCl42- (aq) + Cu(s) + 4 Cl- (aq) ~ CuCl43- (aq)
Cu = +2, 0 ~ Cu = +1

5) Aqua Regia is created by a mix of nitric acid and hydrochloric acids. After the
nitrate frees the gold ions, the hydrogen ions bond with the available oxygen. Thus
the chlorine must bond with the freed gold ions.

6) Li: [He} 2s1

Na: [Ne} 3s1
K: [Ar} 4s1
Rb: [Kr} 5s1
Cs: [Xe} 6s1
Fr: [Rn} 7s1
Be: [H} 2s2
Mg: [Ne} 3s2
Ca: [Ar} 4s2
Sr: [Kr} 5s
Ba: [Xe} 6s2
Ra: [Rn} 7s2