Retrieving Copper Lab

Livia, Sydney, Jimmy Neutron

Retrieving Copper Lab:

Abstract: The purpose of the part one experiment was to extract the Cu from the Copper chloride sample. We preweighed both of the filter paper to 1.02 grams, and waited a day or so to record the weight of the filter paper with the experimented copper samples on it. During the lab, we struggled with correctly measuring the hydrochloric acid, because we poured too much excess. Also, we got set back because we overheated the beaker, which made it more time consuming. The final results of our first copper sample was .66 and for the second, it was .48.

Procedure:

Part I: Separating Copper(II) Oxide (CuO) from the Sample:

The first step in the procedure was to weigh our copper sample. The weight was 1.4 grams. Now that the sample is weighed, we have to distribute 50mL of HCl to the beaker containing the copper oxide mixture. After the mL of HCl was added to our copper chloride mixture, we gently and carefully heated the mixture to 40 degrees Celsius. When we obtained the correct temperature, we maintained that temperature, stirring was required with a glass rod. When we successfully achieved the correct temperature, we removed it from the hot plate. The unreacted copper from there formed a precipitate at the bottom of the beaker. From that point, the copper liquid was filtered into another, empty, 100mL beaker.

Once the first step of the filtration process is done, we washed the solid copper in the first beaker with distilled water. We decanted the liquid in the second beaker, and added it to the liquid we just collected. The mass of the filter paper was 1.02. The filter paper is currently drying overnight.

Part II: Converting Copper (II) Chloride (CuCl2) to Copper (Cu):

The final step in this lab is converting the dissolved copper (ii) chloride into copper metal. Our first step in the second part of the procedure was to cover the top of a beaker with a watch glass. For each gram of copper powder that we started with, we add one gram of zinc. We have noticed that the zinc dissolved into the calcium chloride. From there the zinc turned black, to white, to red. Once the reaction subsided, we added 10mL of HCl to the beaker, and from there we decanted as much of the liquid possible.

The copper from there was carefully washed several times with distilled water. It was added to a piece of filter paper that weighed 0.01 grams, and left it to dry overnight.  

Questions:

1.

a. The evidence that led me to believe the reaction was incomplete was because it took a serious amount of time.

b. By adding more hydrochloric acid.

2.
a. When we first got the copper the weight was 1.4 grams but after we weighted it again it weights .16 grams for the converted one. For the unconverted one we started at 1.4 grams and when we re weighted it, the weight was 1.13 grams.
b. For the converted one the percent was 11.4 percent of the copper that reacted, for the unconverted one  81% of the copper reacted. 

3.

a. Cu2 + Zn2+ à Cu + Zn2-

b.

i. Zn

ii. Cu

iii. distilled water

iiii. HCl

4. The zinc turned black, now the water is turning white, then eventually turning red.

5.

a. Zinc

b. Onto the filter paper.