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This experiment depends on the making and use of a set of comparison solutions of known copper
concentration of the kind that might be used with a colorimeter. Here the comparison is made by eye
but, as an extension, the solutions could be used in a colorimeter and a proper calibration curve
drawn and used.
Purified (deionised or distilled) water
Dilute sulfuric acid, approx. 2 M (CORROSIVE), 40 cm3
Sample of powdered ore (see technical notes) (HARMFUL, DANGEROUS FOR THE
ENVIRONMENT), 10 g
Copper(II) sulfate solution, 1 M, 25 cm3(HARMFUL, DANGEROUS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT)
Refer to Health & Safety and Technical notes section below for additional information.
Eye protection
Each student or pair of students will require:
Tube number
10
f Pour a 10 cm3 sample of the copper solution from your volumetric flask into another test-tube.
g Compare the colour of your tube from part f with those from part e. Which one matches the colour
best?
h Estimate the mass of copper mineral in 10 g of the ore using the following table:
Tube of best match
Mass of compound in 10 g or
ore/g
10
7.5
2.5
It is a good idea to set up the standard colour test-tubes in a rack, put white paper under the tubes
and observe by looking down through the solutions.
When students have completed this experiment they are probably going to ask two things:
1 What is the correct answer?
2 How does the arithmetic work?
For the answer to the first question, consult the person who made up the ore mixture it is best to
come clean and confess that the ore is not a real one. Samples of copper ore, such as malachite,
could be shown, if available.
For the second question, work out the concentration of copper in, say, test-tube 3:
Concentration Cu (as Cu2+) = 4/10 x 1 M = 0.4 M
Work out the concentration of copper ions when 5 g of copper carbonate is dissolved and made up
to 100 cm3 of solution: (Formula mass of CuCO3 = 124)
Concentration Cu = (5/124) x (1000/100) = 0.4 M
The two concentrations should be the same. However, this calculation works only approximately
because basic copper carbonate also contains an equimolar amount of copper hydroxide and some
water.
It should be stressed that copper ores are seldom as concentrated as this.
1.
Concentrated acetic acid is often called glacial acetic acid. The origin of this name can be
attributed to acetic acids high freezing point. Acetic acid freezes into a solid at a temperature
very close to room temperature: 16.5 C, or 62 F. When it freezes, it kind of looks like ice; hence
the term glacial.