MinottTheCopperLab

NikeaMinott Chemistry LabReport February27,2014 MaterialsandMethods In order to conduct the laboratory experiment, obtain the following materials: one pair of chemical resistant gloves, a 250 mL beaker and a 100 mL beaker, two graduated pipettes, one 50 mL graduated cylinder, one funnel and two sheets of filter paper, a pair of beaker tongs,an electronic balance, onestirring rod, one weigh boat, a hot plate, and a fume hood to capture chemical gases. The chemicals that mustbe acquired are: 0.1 g of copper powder, 2mLof 8M nitric acid( HNO3 ), 15mLof 1M sulfuricacid( H 2 SO4 ),2 mLof8Msodiumhydroxide( NaOH ),and0.1gofzincfilings. Using an electronic balance and one 250 mL beaker, carefully measure 0.1 gof copper powderinto the glass container. Then, move the beaker to the designatedfumehood. Once the beaker is safely secured (at an arms length away from the scientist) inside of the fume hood, measure 2 mL of 8 M nitric acid (HNO3) and slowly pour the acid intothe copperpowder. Immediately place a watch glassonto the mouth of the beaker. Maintaining a safe distance away from the harmful chemicals, swirl both substances together making sure that the copper powder is completely submerged by the nitric acid. Once the brown gas dissipates, slowly remove the lid from the mouth of the beaker. Return all equipment used, including the beaker,tothedesignatedlabstation. Next, using a 50 mL graduated cylinder, measure 25 mL of waterand applytheliquid tothebeaker. Using caution, measure 2 mL of concentrated sodium hydroxide (NaOH ) into a pipette (simplistic measurement) , then, pour the chemical into the beaker. Observe the immediate reaction of the compound created. Place the beaker onto a hotplate setting the temperature to medium. Whileheating the beaker,stir the contents with a glass rod. Continue this process untila new solidsubstance emerges withinthesolution that has already been solidified due to the previous steps. Thisnewsolid will appearin the form ofminiscule brownparticles. Once the particles are present, use the beaker tongs to remove the beaker from the hot plate and

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onto the lab table. Give the beaker a few seconds to cool down before proceeding with the following steps. While the beaker simmers down, fold the filterpaperintotheshape of a cone, andplace the paper inside of a medium sized funnel. Set the funnel above the 100mLbeakerto catch all drainingfluids.Makingsurenot to overflow the filter paper, gradually pour the solution throughthefunnel.This filtering processwillseparate the solidfromtheremainingsolution. Then, using the glass rod from the previous step,scrapethe solidfromthefilter paperand place the shavings back into the 250 mL beaker*.Takingonepipette, measure15 mL of 1 M sulfuric acid (H 2SO4) and while stirring, slowly pour the chemical onto the unknown brown solid within the beaker. Remove the glass rodandobservethereactionsthatoccurbetweenboththesolidandliquid. Once the reaction of the sulfuric acid completes, use a weigh boat to measure 0.1 g of zinc (Zn) filings on an electronic balance. Resume stirring the contents inside of the containerwith the glass rod while adding zinc into the beaker. When the solution becomes somewhat colorless, ceasestirringthe compound and analyze the physical properties of the chemical. At this point, the solid should have become a vibrant maroon. When this trait is visible, drain the excess solution (making sure not to dispose of any ofthesolid substanceatthebottomofthebeaker)intotheappropriatewastecontainer. Finally, measure 10 mL of water into a graduatedcylinder and apply the liquidto the solid within the beaker. Following the previous step, drain thewater into the designated waste container. Using the glassrod onceagain,takethesecondfilterpaperandpourthesolidsubstanceontothepapertodry. During the experiment, itis essential that each scientist conducting the activitywearsbothchemical resistant latex gloves andprotective apronstodecline the risk of beingexposed toharmful chemicals.Due to the close proximity that every individual will have with the various chemicals, it is highly recommended that those participating in the experiment wear safety goggles. Thegoggles will ensure protection from exposures emitted by harmful chemicals and any splashes from such unknown substances that may occur during the procedure. Beaker tongs are also useful for lifting heated glassware. The tongs protect the hands from exothermic exposure. Also, its important to dispose each chemical into the appropriate waste bins. Harmfulandpotentiallydeadlychemicalscanputmanypeopleatriskifdisposedofimproperly.

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Finally, the most important safety precaution to always remember while in the chemistry lab is to thoroughly sanitize the workstation after every experiment to remove bacteria and other foreign substances that may have come in contact with the table during the procedure. An uncleansed table will result in the possibleoutbreakofthatforeignsubstancespreadingwithinthefacility. These safety precautions should be taken seriously and if followed will ensure the safety of the scientist(s)andotherparticipants. Vocabulary Results The property of copper first changes when nitric acid has been added to the element.Coppers fine brown powder is simplistic in nature. Being sealed within a fume hood, conductors of this activity can see how the properties of copper combine with those of the acid andproducea blueliquidsignaling coppers first transition into becoming copper (II) nitrate. The copper and nitric acid emit exothermic energy just from the reaction alone, causing a brown gas to fill the beaker.The solution is then diluted with water, which only brightenstheblueliquid. The properties continue to evolve once sodium hydroxide is added to the diluted solution, creating copper hydroxide. This new compound produces an opaqueyet gelatinous solidlikeblue liquid. This liquid has no physical traces of copper within the product, however the equation of such product (seetablebelow) thattheelementstillremainswithinthesolution. In the fifth step of the procedure, the copper hydroxide is then placedontoa hot plate where, after a series of stirring with a glass rod, miniscule brown particles begin to form within the solution.The longer the beaker remains on the mediumset hot plate, the darker the solution becomes, shifting from light blue to a Exothermic:Whenachemicalprocessemitsheat Opaque:Nottransparent Property:Physicaltraitsand/orchangesofagivenelement/compounds StateofMatter:Thethreetraditionalformsofmatter:solids,liquidsandgases Compound:Asubstanceformedwhentwoormoreelementsarechemicallybondedtogether

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cloudy dark green liquid. When the beaker has been safely removed from the plate usingbeaker tongs,it is inferred thattheparticles within the solution are copperoxide. This assumptionis based onboth the evidence ofthecommonpropertiesandtheelementswithinthereactionmix. After filtering the copper oxide from the remaining solution and placing the product into a separate beaker, the sulfuric acid is stirred into the mixture. The reactionbetween both chemicals create a clearblue liquid, andthebrown particles remain at the bottomofthebeaker. Again, it becomes inferred that the product within the container is copper sulfate. And like the previous chemical, this inference is supported by the visible evidence of identical properties alongside with having identical elements within the chemicalequation (seenontable). The final evolution that copper will make during this experiment, is when zinc has entered the solution. Once zinc has been addedto the copper sulfate, the solution begins to bubble,producinga gas.As the solutionis stirred,the particles change color from a darkbrown to a vibrant maroon. After drainingexcess liquid from the beaker and pouring the solid onto filter paper todry,theendingresult resembles anessential element to this activity: copper. Conductors of the experiment havegathered enoughinformationtoinfer that the final product created is in fact the element copper. Based on knowledge prior to the experiment, the common property of copper is simply areddish brownpowder.This knowledgeof copper correlates with the evidenceprovidedonthefilterpaper. Thetablebelowgivesavisualofthevariouscomponentscreatedthroughouttheprocedure. ReactionStep
Copper( Cu )

Observations
Thiselementisasimple brownpowder

Copper/Product Formed
Thecopperproductismerely theelementitself: Cu

Evidence
Copperistypicallyknownto consistofbeingafinegrain ofreddishbrowndust,and thegivensubstancematches scientificcharacteristics Theevidenceshowsthatthe elementsintheproductare presentinthereaction mixture.Also,theproperties ofthechemicalmatch commonlyobserved characteristicsofcopper nitrate

NitricAcid( HNO3 )

Thesolutionbecomesgreen andthenmorphsintoadark blueliquid.Duringtheinitial reactionabrowngaserodes fromthesolutionwithinthe beaker,andduringthe processbubblesareformed

Thecopperproductis copper(II)nitrate: Cu(NO3)2(s)

MinottTheCopperLab

Water (H2O)

Thesolutionbecomeslight blue,apossibilityofthe chemicalbeingdilutedbythe wateradded

Nocopperproducthasbeen formed

Theevidenceshowsno reaction

SodiumHydroxide (NaOH)

Thesolution,when (NaOH) Thecopperproductformed hasbeenapplied,becomesa iscopper(II)hydroxide: Cu(OH)2(s) sapphireblueliquidwitha similarshadesolidwithinthe liquid:thesubstancewithin thesolutionisgelatinous,and cloudy Asthedurationofheat increasesonthebeaker,the solutionscolorchangesfrom darkgreentoacloudy brownliquid.Thesubstance appearstohaveapprox.13 centimetersofanunknown solidonthebottomofthe container Thecopperproductformed iscopper(II)oxide: CuO(s)

Theevidenceshowsthatnot onlydoesthepropertiesof thischemicalmatch commonlyknowntraits. Also,elementsformedinthe productarepresentinthe reactionmix Theevidencehassimilar properties/traitsofthe createdcompound.Also,the elementsinthereaction cometogether

HotPlate

Filterpaper

Asthecopperoxideisbeing Thecopperproductisinfact, filteredthrough,adark copper(II)oxide: brownsludgelikesolid CuO(s) remainsandacolorlessliquid runsthrough Onceaddedtothe (CuO) , thesolutionshiftsshades (teal,lightblue,aquamarine) andformsaclearblueliquid Theproductformedis copper(II)sulfate(aq.): CuSO4

Theevidenceshowsno furtherchemicalreaction

SulfuricAcid (H2SO4)

Theevidenceshowsthatthe propertiesmatchandthatthe elementsintheproductare presentinthereactionmix Theevidenceshowsthatnot onlydothepropertiesmatch, buttheelementsinthe reactionarepresentinthe solution

Zinc (Zn)

Immediatebubblingreaction Theproductformedis commencesfromthe (CuO) copper: oncethezincisadded.While Cu beingstirred,particles graduallyincreaseinsize, andaredcoloringreturns, thusrecreatingcopper

Conclusion The main purpose of the procedure is to discover what happens to matter when it has been chemically changed. The result of the procedure (asdisplayedinthetable above), demonstrates thatcopper remains within each equation and each newfound chemical compound. Although the element of copper is present in the chemical equation, physically, it seems as though the copper has saturated within the nitric acid, completely vanishing. It iseasy to assume such a statement due tothefactthat thecommon property ofcopper,thereddishbrownpowder,isnolongervisiblypresentwithinthebeaker. Based on observations and analysis of all chemical equations, fellow scientists have discovered a

MinottTheCopperLab

logical explanation as to what becomes ofmatteronce it undergoesa chemical change.The answer tosuch a prompt, as demonstrated throughtheresultsoftheprocedure and the data table, explainshowtheelement copper is distributed through every process of the experiment. Regardless of being in either solid,gaseous, liquidand/oraqueousform,copperremainspresentineachevolutionofchemicalchange. During the experiment, one can idealize that the concept of matter has been divided into two parts: identity and property. The control and the variable. In this case, thecontrolis copperbecause this element is present in every chemical equation. The equation provides the elements and atoms within each compounded substance and italso specifies the state ofmatter. For example, when nitricacidis added into the beaker with the copper powder, the equation ofsuch a bond is: Cu(NO3)2(aq) . Not only is the presence ofcopperisstillvisible,buttheequationalsoexplainsthephysicalformofthiscompoundbeingaqueous. Although copper is visibly displayed in chemical equations, the physical aspect of the chemical change and/or the properties of each chemical bonding together, is the variable. The property of chemicals are the only things that change and are different in every chemical bond.Anexampleofa physicalaspect of the chemical change, is when sodium hydroxide is added to copper (II) nitrate. Observations of this given process demonstrate how the chemicals interact, which show a gelatinous sapphire solid form within the solution. Despite having a different structure and no longer being a fine brown powder, the copper element remains within the product, creating copper (II) hydroxide: Cu(OH )2(s) . Each reaction mix changes the physicalstructureofeachcompoundwithinthebeakerthroughouttheprocedure. This activity concludes the theory that the identity of any form of matter when it undergoes a chemical reaction does not change. However, the only given variable of the procedurewouldbe the physical properties of the given substance. Copper did not chemically deviate from the actual element. Copper remains present in each phase of the procedure, the identity simply bonds to another compound and/or element to produce a chemical reaction. Theexperiment however,demonstratesthephysicalchangesinthe chemicalasitundergoesvariousreactionsthroughouttheactivity.

MinottTheCopperLab

TheIdentitiesofCopper Chemistry AndriaDeaguero February18,2014 The main purpose of the experiment is to determine what happens to matter whenitundergoes a chemical change. During theprocedure, scientists understand how the form of matter is divided into two separateparts:identity and property. The identity is the control, something that never changes. Whereas the property is the variable, a physical change that occurs within a chemical reaction. The Copper Lab Cycle demonstrates how despite the various compounds that are added to the element (Cu) , copper will always remainwithineachchemicalproduct.