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Determining the Correct Equation for the Decomposition of Copper Carbonate

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Aim: The aim of this experiment is to determine which of the following equations is correct: * Equation 1: 2CuCO3 (s) Cu2O(s) + 2CO2 + 1/2O2(g) * Equation 2: CuCO3 (s) CuO(s) + CO2(g) I will do this by decomposing the copper carbonate. I will need to calculate if the volume of carbon dioxide produced is equal to what the equation suggests. Equipment: * Bunsen burner - To heat the copper carbonate. * Heatproof Mat - To keep Bunsen burner on and to insure furniture is kept safe * Spatula - Used to take out copper carbonate from its packet and placed in dry weighing bottle to be measured. . * Digital Weighing Scales - To weigh the copper carbonate. * Clamp Stand and Clamp x2 - To secure the gas syringe and boiling tube. * Boiling Tube - To place copper carbonate in and then to be heated in. * Dry Weighing Bottle - To measure copper carbonate in. * Bung with Delivery Tube - To make sure gas doesn't escape boiling tube, and only gets delivered to the gas syringe. ...read more.


There is also the problem of the gas expanding in the heat, and having a larger volume than the gas syringe. To tackle this problem I will need to let the gas cool before measuring the volume, and may need to cool the gas as it enters the gas syringe. For my investigation I will use 0.30g of copper carbonate. For equation 1: Equation 1: 2CuCO3 (s) Cu2O(s) + 2CO2 + 1/2O2(g) The ratio of copper carbonate to gases is: 2:21/2 Molar Mass, Mr of copper carbonate = 63.5 + 12 + (16x3) = 123.5 So, in 0.30g of copper carbonate the number of moles will be: Number of moles = Mass / Mr n = 0.30/123.5 = 2.429149798x10-3 = 2.43x10-3 mols So the number of moles of gas will be: (2.43x10-3) X (21/2 / 2) = 2.43x10-3 X 1.25 = 3.04x10-3 mols The volume of a gas in cm3 is the number of moles multiplied by 24000 cm3 = 3.04x10-3 X 24000 = 72.96 cm3 For equation 2: Equation 2: CuCO3 (s) ...read more.


Broken glass must be dealt with maturely as it can easily cut the skin. Method: 1. Gather all apparatus and chemicals required. Set up both of the clamp with clamp stand. 2. Take a Dry Weighing Bottle and place it on the digital weighing scales. Take the weight measurement of this. Retrieve a spatula with the calcium carbonate and add 0.30g of calcium carbonate to the dry weighing bottle. 3. Carefully, pour the calcium carbonate into a boiling tube making sure everything has gone in with no spillages and attach a bung with delivery tube. 4. Fix the boiling tube onto a clamp stand and attach the delivery tube to the 100cm3 gas syringe. Place this gas syringe to the other clamp stand. (All attachments made should be airtight) 5. Retrieve Bunsen burner and place over heatproof mat and under the boiling tube. Being to heat the calcium carbonate. 6. As soon as colour change has turned from green to black (colour of copper oxide), stop heating. Allow all the apparatus to cool, and the gas to contract. When the plunger on the gas syringe has stopped moving, record the volume of gas given off. ...read more.

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