CHM 111 The Copper Cycle

Learning Objectives
Students will be able to…
1. Take a sample of copper through various reactions and make detailed observations of the
chemical changes that occur.
2. Classify the types of reactions that occur in the copper cycle.
3. Calculate the percent yield of copper recovered after all the reactions are complete.

Discussion
The purpose of this experiment is to take a known mass of copper through different reactions, recover
it with maximum efficiency, and calculate the percent yield. The chemical reactions (not balanced)
involved are the following:

𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1: 𝐶𝑢(𝑠) + 𝐻𝑁𝑂3(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐶𝑢(𝑁𝑂3 )2(𝑎𝑞) + 𝑁𝑂2(𝑔) + 𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙)

𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2: 𝐶𝑢(𝑁𝑂3 )2(𝑎𝑞) + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐶𝑢(𝑂𝐻)2(𝑠) + 𝑁𝑎𝑁𝑂3(𝑎𝑞)
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 3: 𝐶𝑢(𝑂𝐻)2(𝑠) → 𝐶𝑢𝑂(𝑠) + 𝐻2 𝑂(𝑔)
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 4: 𝐶𝑢𝑂(𝑠) + 𝐻𝐶𝑙(𝑎𝑞) → 𝐶𝑢𝐶𝑙2(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐻2 𝑂(𝑙)
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 5: 𝐶𝑢𝐶𝑙2(𝑎𝑞) + 𝑍𝑛(𝑠) → 𝑍𝑛𝐶𝑙2(𝑎𝑞) + 𝐶𝑢(𝑠)

Each of these reactions proceeds to completion. The percent yield of the copper can be expressed as
the ratio of the recovered weight to initial weight, multiplied by 100.

% yield = Recovered weight of Copper x 100

Initial weight of Copper

Procedures

1. Weigh approximately 0.500 g of copper and place it in a 250 mL beaker. Record the exact mass
of the copper on your data table.

2. In the fume hood, add 4 mL of concentrated HNO3 to the beaker. Lower the fume hood sash until
the reaction is complete. Describe the reaction as to color change, evolution of gas, and change
in temperature (exothermic or endothermic) on the data sheet. After the reaction is complete, add
100 mL of distilled water.

3. Add 30 mL of 3.0 M NaOH to the solution in your beaker and describe the reaction.

4. Add 2 or 3 boiling chips and carefully heat the solution while stirring with a stirring rod (Do Not
Boil the Solution). Describe the reaction in your data sheet.

5. Allow the solid to settle and decant the supernatant liquid. Add about 100 mL of hot distilled
water, stir and then allow the solid to settle again. Decant once more.

6. Add 10 mL of 6.0 M HCl and stir.

7. In the fume hood, add 1.0 g of Zinc metal all at once and stir until the supernatant liquid is
colorless. When gas evolution has become very slow, heat the solution gently for a few minutes
on a hot plate. DO NOT USE THE BUNSEN BURNER. Be careful not to boil the solution. Cool
the solution and proceed to the next step.

8. Decant the solution and transfer the precipitate to a pre-weighed porcelain evaporating dish.
Wash the precipitate with 5 mL of distilled water, allow it to settle, decant the solution and repeat
the process with 5mL of water. Next, wash the precipitate with 5 mL of methanol, allow the
precipitate to settle, and decant the methanol.

CAUTION: Keep the methanol away from flames – it is flammable. Methanol is

also toxic. Avoid breathing the vapors as much as possible.

9. Finally wash the precipitate with 5 mL of acetone, allow the precipitate to settle, and decant the
acetone from the precipitate.
CAUTION: Keep the acetone away from flames – it is extremely flammable.

10. Prepare a steam bath by heating water in a 250mL beaker on a hot plate. Place the evaporating
dish on the beaker and let the precipitate dry for at least 5 minutes.

11. Wipe the bottom of the evaporating dish with a towel, remove the boiling chips, and weigh the
evaporating dish plus Copper.

12. Determine the final weight of copper and the percent yield of Copper.
CHM 111 The Copper Cycle Data Table

Name ______________________________ Lab Partner ____________________________

Data Sheet

1. Initial mass of Copper _____________________

2. Reaction 1 Description __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

3. Reaction 2 Description __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

4. Reaction 3 Description __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

5. Reaction 4 Description __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

6. Reaction 5 Description __________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

7. Mass of Evaporating Dish ________________________

8. Mass of Evaporating Dish + Recovered Copper ________________________

9. Percent Yield of Copper ________________________

(Show Calculations)
Post-Lab Questions

1. Write the balance chemical reaction and classify the reactions in this lab as decomposition,
synthesis, single displacement, precipitation, oxidation-reduction, or neutralization. (5 points)

𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 1: ____________________
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 2: ____________________
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 3: ____________________
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 4: ____________________
𝑅𝑒𝑎𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 5: ____________________

2. One of the products for reaction one is NO2(g). In a couple of sentences explain some of the
safety hazards of NO2(g) and why it is necessary for the reaction to be performed in the fume
hood.

3. For the redox reaction, Give the oxidation and reduction reaction.

4. In reaction #4, hydrochloric acid was added in excess. Some of the hydrochloric acid will react
with one of the reactants in reaction #5 and produce hydrogen gas. This is a different reaction
and it’s not written on the procedures. Write a balanced chemical equation for this extra
reaction.

5. Explain why reaction #5 needs to be performed in the fume hood and a hot plate is used
instead of a Bunsen Burner.
 6. Rank magnesium, copper, and hydrogen in order of the most to least active element. Give the
reason.

Precipitation Reactions Name ____________________________________

Predict the product for each chemical reaction. Then, use the solubility rules to identify the precipitate
formed in each reaction. Write a balanced molecular, ionic, and net ionic equation.

7. Lead (II) nitrate reacts with sodium hydroxide.

Molecular equation: _____________________________________________________________

Complete Ionic Equation: _________________________________________________________

Net Ionic Equation: _____________________________________________________________

8. Calcium nitrate reacts with sodium phosphate.

Molecular equation: _____________________________________________________________

Complete Ionic Equation: _________________________________________________________

Net Ionic Equation: ______________________________________________________________

9. Aluminum chlorate reacts with sodium carbonate.

Molecular equation: _____________________________________________________________

Complete Ionic Equation: _________________________________________________________

Net Ionic Equation: ______________________________________________________________

10. Silver nitrate reacts with magnesium chloride.

Molecular equation: _____________________________________________________________

Complete Ionic Equation: _________________________________________________________

Net Ionic Equation: ______________________________________________________________

 11. Copper (II) nitrate reacts with potassium chromate.

Molecular equation: _____________________________________________________________

Complete Ionic Equation: _________________________________________________________

Net Ionic Equation: ______________________________________________________________