TITLE: Preparation of Copper(II) Sulphate

INTRODUCTION: A salt is the compound formed when all or part of the replaceable hydrogen of an acid
is replaced by a metal cation or ammonium ion. The way in which salts are prepared depend on whether
they are insoluble or not. Soluble salts are prepared by the action of a metal, metal oxide, metal
hydroxide or metal carbonate on the appropriate acid. Insoluble salts are prepared by mixing a solution
containing the required anion.

APPARATUS:

 Copper(II) oxide
 Sulfuric Acid
 Beakers
 Evaporating dishes
 Water bath
 Measuring cylinders
 Filter paper
 Funnel
 Retort stand and clamp
 Balance

METHOD: Part A

 50 cm3 of sulphuric acid was measured out

 Copper oxide was added until no more could dissolve in the sulphuric acid
 The mixture was heated for a couple minutes
 The mixture was then filtered and the hot solution was then placed into a water bath.
 Afterwards it was placed directly over the Bunsen burner’s flame in order to speed up the
evaporation process
 The solution was left over the flame until the liquid evaporated and the residue remained
 The residue was left overnight to crystalize
 The crystals were then weighed and their mass was recorded.

Part B:

 A few crystals were then mixed with ammonium hydroxide and the observation was recorded
 The crystals were constantly mixed in order for them to dissolve
 A few crystals were then mixed in sodium hydroxide and the observations were recorded
OBSERVATIONS:

 When one crystal was mixed with ammonium hydroxide, a light blue precipitate was formed.
 When excess ammonium was added it made the light blue precipitate dissolve which resulted in
a dark blue precipitate being formed.
 When a crystal was mixed with sodium hydroxide a dark blue gelatinous mixture was formed
 The dark blue gelatinous mixture was insoluble in sodium hydroxide.

CALCULATIONS:

Weight of crystals = total mass of filter paper and crystals – mass of filter paper

= 11.59 – 0.94

= 10.65 g

DISCUSSION:

REFLECTION:

I enjoyed this lab a lot as it was my first preparation of salts lab and look forward to doing more in the
future. This lab benefited me because I learned how a salt is prepared and it is beneficial to the
environment because salt lowers the freezing temperature of water which then melts street-clogging
snow and ice. It was also beneficial to society because salt is used in many ways such as cooking and to
help reduce the swelling of gums when mixed in salt water.

SOURCES OF ERROR:

 Crystal residue may have remained in the evaporating dish

 Not all of the water may have evaporated out.

CONCLUSION: