Experiment: Reduction of copper using carbon

Aim: To investigate the reduction of copper oxide using carbon

Materials: copper oxide, anhydrous sodium carbonate, charcoal block, blow pipe, burner

The reduction of copper using carbon.

Method

1. Mix a little copper oxide with sodium carbonate
2. Place the mixture in a small hole in a charcoal block
3. Heat the mixture strongly using a blow pipe and a burner
4. Continue heating until no further colour changes can be observed
5. Allow the block to cool and then scrape off the products

Results and Observations

• The mixture glows during the heating process
• At the beginning of the experiment the copper oxide was black
• The copper oxide is reduced during the experiment and it the mixture turns to copper-red/brown
• The reaction is shown using the equation:
• \text{copper oxide+carbon}\rightarrow\text{copper+carbon dioxide}

Conclusion

• Copper oxide can be reduced to copper using carbon

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