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DAY 4 COPPER

Copper is naturally found in ores like copper pyrites, malachite, and cuprite, primarily extracted through froth flotation and roasting processes. The extraction involves several chemical reactions to produce copper metal, which is then refined to 99.98% purity via electrolysis. Copper is widely used in electrical applications, alloys, and has environmental impacts such as pollution and land degradation from mining activities.

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22 views

DAY 4 COPPER

Copper is naturally found in ores like copper pyrites, malachite, and cuprite, primarily extracted through froth flotation and roasting processes. The extraction involves several chemical reactions to produce copper metal, which is then refined to 99.98% purity via electrolysis. Copper is widely used in electrical applications, alloys, and has environmental impacts such as pollution and land degradation from mining activities.

Uploaded by

eric nyachae
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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COPPER

Natural occurrence
Copper is found as uncombined element/metal on the earth’s crust in Zambia, Tanzania, USA and Canada
The chief ores of copper are:
- Copper pyrites(CuFeS2)
- Malachite (CuCO3.Cu(OH)2)
- Cuprite(Cu2O)

Extraction from Copper Pyrites


- Copper pyrites are first crushed into fine powder.
- The powdered ore is the added water and oil.
The purpose of water is to dissolve hydrophilic substances. The purpose of oil is to make cover
copper ore particle so as to make it hydrophobic

- Air is blown through the mixture. Air creates bubbles that stick around hydrophobic copper ore. The
air bubbles raise through buoyancy small hydrophobic copper ore particles to the surface.
- A concentrated ore floats at the top as froth. This is called froth flotation.
- The concentrated ore is then skimmed off. The ore is then roasted in air to form copper (I) sulphide,
sulphur (IV) oxide and iron (II) oxide.

2CuFeS2(s) + 4O2(g) Cu2S(s) + 3SO2(g) + 2FeO(s)

Limestone (CaCO3) and silicon (IV) oxide (SiO2) are added and the mixture heated in absence of air.
Silicon (IV) oxide (SiO2) reacts with iron (II) oxide to form Iron silicate which constitutes the slag and is
removed.

FeO(s) + SiO2(s) FeSiO3(s)

The slag separates off from the copper (I) sulphide. Copper (I) sulphide is then heated in a regulated
supply of air where some of it is converted to copper (I) oxide.

2Cu2S (s) + 3O2(g) 2Cu2S(s) + 2SO2(g)


The mixture then undergo self-reduction in which copper (I) oxide is reduced by copper (I) sulphide to
copper metal.
Cu2S (s) + 2Cu2O (s) 6Cu (s) + SO2(g)

The copper obtained has Iron, sulphur and traces of silver and gold as impurities. It is therefore about
97.5% pure. It is refined by electrolysis/electrolytic method.
During the electrolysis of refining copper, the impure copper is made the anode and a small pure strip is
made the cathode. (To Be Elaborated More On Electrochemistry Topic)

DRAW DIAGRAM PG 150


Electrode ionization takes place where:
At the anode;
Cu(s) Cu2+ (aq) + 2e
Note: Impure copper anode dissolves/erodes into solution and decreases in size.
At the Cathode;
Cu2+ (aq) + 2e Cu(s)
Note: The copper ions in the electrolyte (CuSO4) are reduced and deposited as copper metal at the
cathode. The copper obtained is 99.98% pure.
Valuable traces of silver and gold collect at the bottom of the electrolytic cell as sludge. It is used to
finance the extraction of copper pyrites.
Uses of copper
Copper is mainly used in:
i. Making low voltage electric cables, contact switches, sockets and plugs because it is a good
conductor of electricity.
ii. Making solder because it is a good thermal conductor.
iii. Making useful alloys e.g.
-Brass is an alloy of copper and Zinc (Cu/Zn)
-Bronze is an alloy of copper and Tin (Cu/Sn)
-German silver is an alloy of copper, Zinc and Nickel (Cu/Zn/Ni)
iv. Making coins and ornaments.

Environmental effects of extracting copper from Copper pyrites

i. Sulphur (IV) oxide is a gas that has a pungent poisonous smell that causes headache to human in
high concentration.
ii. Sulphur (IV) oxide gas if allowed to escape dissolves in water /rivers/rain to form weak sulphuric
(IV) acid lowering the pH of the water leading to
- Marine pollution,
- Accelerated corrosion/rusting of metals/roofs and
- Breathing problems to human beings
iii. Copper is extracted by open caste mining leading to land /soil degradation.

Test for the presence of copper in an ore


Copper naturally exist in its compound as copper (II) Cu2+ or copper (I) Cu+
Copper (I) / Cu+ is readily oxidized to copper (II)/ Cu2+
If an ore is suspected to contain Cu2+ /Cu+ it is;
(i) Added hot concentrated sulphuric (VI) or Nitric (V) acid to free the ions present.
(ii) The free ions are then added a precipitating reagent; 2M sodium hydroxide /2M aqueous
ammonia which forms;
a) An insoluble blue precipitate in excess of 2M sodium hydroxide if Cu2+ ions are present
b) An insoluble blue precipitate in 2M aqueous ammonia that dissolve to deep blue solution in
excess ifCu2+ ions are present.

Observation Inference
blue precipitate insoluble in excess 2M NaOH(aq) Cu2+
blue precipitate, dissolve to deep blue solution in excess 2M NH3(aq) Cu2+

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