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Pac 211 Practical Report 1
Pac 211 Practical Report 1
SURNAME : MPHOMELA
STUDENT NO : 202101291
The lower chloride of copper, having the formula CuCl, is copper(I) chloride, also known as
cuprous chloride. Natural occurrences include the mineral nantokite. It is a white solid that is
practically insoluble in water and that oxidizes to green CuCl2 when exposed to air. It is a Lewis
acid that forms complexes, many of which are water-soluble, when it combines with appropriate
ligands like ammonia or chloride ions. It can also combine with carbon monoxide to generate a
stable complex.
CuCl would disproportion into Cu and CuCl2 in aqueous solution, but because of its limited
solubility, it can remain a stable molecule.
ABSTRACT
We created copper (I) chloride by reducing copper (II) chloride ions with sulfite ions. Insoluble
copper (I)chloride is created when the prepared copper (I) ions react with the chloride ions. CuCl
is quite oxidizable and reactive.
RESULTS
2CU + Cl 2CuCL
1.8366 g
% yield= ×100 = 54.82%
3.35 g
DISCUSSION
The copper (II) chloride dissolved in water. A gas was produced because bubbles were seen.
A new substance was formed as shown by the fact that a red solid was formed that was not
present beforehand.
The substance changed form as was seen by the fact that the Sodium Sulphite disintegrated and
disappeared.
The starting substance disappeared because the blue colour in the solution disappeared.
This experiment was designed to illustrate stabilization of oxidation states. This was done
through synthesis of CuCl. Sodium sulphite was used as a reactant for synthesizing of CuCl in
solution sulphite reduce Cu2+ to Cu+ ions and itself being oxidized to sulphate ions this is called
redox reaction.
During synthesis it was observed that the product turned to green on exposure to air. Since Cu+
ions are unstable and is slowly oxidized to Cu2+ in air. The synthesis gave a percentage yield of
(54.82%) copper (I) chloride. Percentage yield is less than 100% since the actual yield produced
was less than the theoretical yield. This maybe some of the copper product could have been
lost during the transfer to the washing beaker. Impurities in the copper (II) chloride dehydrate
could have reduced the amount of copper able to be produced in the experiment.
CONCLUSION
Copper (I) compounds can be prepared from copper (II) for example copper (I)chloride, but
careful attention is needed to maintain the copper in the +1oxidation state. A sample of copper (I)
chloride will remain white if not exposed to air.
REFERENCES
1. Sharpe, A.G. (1992) Inorganic chemistry. 3rd edition. (pp. 604-607) Longman Singapore
publishers Ltd. Singapore.
3. Boyle, Robert (1666). Considerations and experiments about the origin of forms and qualities.
Oxford. As reported in Mellor.
6. Bertz, S. H.; Fairchild, E. H. (1999) Handbook of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, Volume 1:
Reagents, Auxiliaries and Catalysts for C-C Bond Formation, R. M. Coates, S. E. Denmark
(eds.). Wiley, New York. pp. 220–3.