Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

184 DIY Science: Illustrated Guide to Home Chemistry Experiments

dAL: The waste material from this lab can be ISpoS

ground to powder and flushed down the drain with

plenty of water.

FGURE10-1:I Mixed copper carbonate and charcoal before smelting

TABLE 10-1: Reduction of copper ore to copper metal—observed

and calculated data

POCEDURER

SBSTITUTIU oNS ANd modIfICATIoNS

• You may substitute a test tube and clamp or test
  tube holder for the crucible, support stand, and clay
  triangle. If you do use a test tube, choose one that
  you don’t mind sacrificing, as it will probably not be
  reusable.


• You may substitute a pair of pliers or similar gripping
  tool for the crucible tongs. (Be careful. Crucibles are
  physically fragile.)


• You may substitute a propane torch for the gas burner.


• If you do not have copper carbonate, you can
  make it by dissolving about 11 g of copper sulfate
  pentahydrate in about 50 mL of water and adding a
  solution of about 5 g of anhydrous sodium carbonate
  in about 20 mL of water. Filter the precipitate of
  copper carbonate, rinse it two or three times with
  water, and dry it before use.


• You may substitute an equivalent weight of any form
  of carbon for the activated charcoal. If you decide to
  use 3 g of diamonds, send them to me instead, and I’ll
  send you a whole kilogram of activated charcoal
  in exchange.

CUTIOA nS

This experiment uses the hot flame provided by a gas

burner. Be careful with the flame, have a fire extinguisher

readily available, and use care in handling hot objects (a

hot crucible looks exactly like a cold crucible). Wear splash

goggles, gloves, and protective clothing.

z

1.ou have not already done so, put on your splash If y

goggles, gloves, and protective clothing.

2. Weigh a clean, dry crucible and lid and record the mass to
   0.01 g on line A of Table 10-1.


3. Weigh about 5.0 g of copper carbonate and record the
   mass to 0.01 g on line B of Table 10-1.


4. Weigh about 3.0 g of activated charcoal and record the
   mass to 0.01 g on line C of Table 10-1.


5. Mix the copper carbonate and activated charcoal
   thoroughly, and transfer them to the crucible.


6. Weigh the crucible and contents and record the mass to
   0.01 g on line D of Table 10-1.


7. Set up your tripod stand or ring stand with the clay
   triangle, put the covered crucible in place, and place the
   gas burner to direct the hottest part of its flame at the
   bottom of the crucible.


8. Heat the crucible strongly for at least 15 minutes.


9. Allow the crucible to cool to room temperature. You can
   check the temperature of the crucible by placing your
   hand near, but not touching, its surface to check for
   radiated heat.
   Reweigh the crucible and contents and record the mass
   to 0.01 g on line E of Table 10-1.
   Calculate the mass loss (line D minus line E) and enter
   the value to 0.01 g on line F of Table 10-1.

10.

11.

Item Data

A. Mass of crucible + lid ______.______ g

B. Mass of copper carbonate ______.______ g

C. Mass of carbon (charcoal) ______.______ g

D. Mass of crucible, lid, and reactants

(A + B + C) ______.______ g

E. Mass of crucible, lid, and products ______.______ g

F. Mass loss (D – E) ______.______ g