I.

Objectives
1. To help the students remember the various types of chemical reactions
2. To be able to study the different chemistry of copper
3. To analytically observe the different transformations of copper

II. Introduction
Chemical reaction [1] is the process in which one or more substances will be converted into
one or more different substances. There are certain indicators to know if a chemical reaction
occurred. These are some of the following [2]: formation of a precipitation, change in color,
evolution of gas, evolution or absorption of heat and odor.
There are three main chemical reactions: redox reaction, neutralization reaction, and
decomposition reaction. A redox reaction [3] is any chemical reaction in which the oxidation
number of a molecule, atom, or ion changes by gaining or losing an electron. An example [5] of
this is the balancing procedure in basic solutions. 10I- (aq) + 2MnO4- (aq) + 8H2O (l) → 5I2 (s)
+ 2Mn2+ (aq) + 16OH- (aq) is the balanced reaction in basic solution. Second, a neutralization
reaction [4] is when an acid and a base react to form water and a salt and involves the
combination of H+ ions and OH- ions to generate water. An example of this is, H 2SO4 + 2 NH4OH
--> (NH4)2SO4 + 2 HOH. Lastly, the decomposition reaction [5] is a type of chemical reaction in
which a single compound breaks down into two or more elements or new compounds. An
example of this is decomposition reaction of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen which has
an equation of 2 H2O2 → 2 H2O + O2.
Copper dissolves in nitric acid but not in hydrochloric or sulfuric acids [6] because there is no
reaction between copper, HCl, and H 2SO4 because neither H+, Cl−, nor SO4-2 is able to react with
the metal while nitric acid reacts with copper because of the nitrate ion. It is the nitrate ion that
causes the copper to dissolve, not the H+. This reaction also produces nitrogen dioxide, a
poisonous brown gas with an irritating odor.
In reducing copper(II) ions, you could separate copper from excess and unreacted zinc dust
by decanting and discarding the supernatant [7].

III. Materials

-Bunser burner -Test tube holder

-Centrifuge -Copper wire
-Test tube

Reagents
6 M ammonia Boiling point: 28.03° F at 760 mm Hg Combustible in air
Melting point: 107.9° F When inhaled
Density: 0.696 g/L  suddenly, it brings
colorless gas tears into the eyes.
Liquid

6 M hydrochloric acid COPY MO SA PREVIOUS PRELAB COPY SA PREVIOUS

16 M nitric acid liquid with an acrid, pungent and suffocating strong, monoprotic
odor acid
colorless, yellow or red accordingly readily forms solid
industrial grade: about 68% in water hydrates
commercial grade: bet 52% and 68% can be decomposed
by heat 
cause severe skin
burns
decompose tissues
irritating and
damaging to eyes,
throat and mucous
membranes.
6 M sodium Boiling point: 1390°C Corrosive to metals
hydroxide Melting point: 318. 4°C and tissue
Density: 1.5 at 68° F  Caustic to skin
Colorless to white, odorless solid Toxic by ingestion

6 M sulfuric acid boiling point: 337 °C very strong, diprotic

melting point: 10 °C acid
Density: 1.84 g/mL readily absorbs
colorless or slightly yellow viscous liquid with moisture from air
a pungent odor strong dehydrating
agent
highly corrosive
can severely damage
tissues upon contact
Contact with eyes can
lead to permanent
damage and blindness
Ingestion of the acid
can even lead to
death
Zinc dust boiling point: 906 °C Strong Reducing
melting point: 420 °C Agent
density: 7.13 g/cm³ Known Catalytic
color: bluish-white Activity
Water-Reactive
 Pyrophoric

VI. References

[1] Treichel , P. Kotz, J. Chemical Reaction. Basic Concepts. Weblog. [Online] Available from:

https://www.britannica.com/science/chemical-reaction[Accessed 17 September 2018].

[2] Hayek, D. Socraticorg. [Online]. Available from: https://socratic.org/questions/what-are-

indications-that-a-chemical-reaction-has-occurred[Accessed 17 September 2018].

[3] Petrucci, et al. General Chemistry: Principles & Modern Applications. 9th ed. Upper
Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2007.

[4] Spohrer, C. Chemistry LibreTexts. [Online]. Available from:

https://chem.libretexts.org/Textbook_Maps/Analytical_Chemistry/Supplemental_Modules_(An
alytical_Chemistry)/Electrochemistry/Redox_Chemistry/Oxidation-Reduction_Reactions [Access
ed 17 September 2018].

[5] Ck-12 foundation. Decomposition Reaction. [Online]. Available from:

https://www.ck12.org/chemistry/decomposition-reactions/lesson/Decomposition-Reactions-
MS-PS/ [Accessed 17 September 2018].

[6] Fawl, S. Quora. [Online]. Available from: https://www.quora.com/Why-does-HNO3-

react-with-copper-but-HCl-doesnt [Accessed 18 September 2018].

[7] San Esteban A, Yanza E. Modern Experiments in General Chemistry I. 10 th ed. 2018 Aug.