Introduction

Three main groups of chemical reactions are precipitation reactions, acid-based reactions,
and oxidation-reduction and redox reactions. Precipitation reactions are characterized by the
formation of precipitate particles or solid particles. Acid-based reactions occur when the acid
reacts with the base to form salt and water. The acid, as described in the General Chemistry
Principles, acts as an H+ donor while the base becomes an OH-donor. Eventually, in a redox
reaction, atoms appear as free elements on one side of the chemical equation and, on the other, as
part of the compound. In this experiment, the students will seek to identify each copper reaction
as one of these three forms.
Materials
Results

R
Equation Observations
*
Cu(s) + HNO3(aq)  Cu(NO3)2(aq) + NO2(aq) + Green liquid and yellow gas were formed,
A
H2O(l) and the solution became warmer.
Blue, gel-like precipitate has been
Cu(NO3)2 (aq) + NaOH (aq)  Cu(OH)2 (s) + produced, along with clear brown and
B
NaNO3 (aq) green particles. Solution has gotten
warmer.
Precipitate turned black. Bubbles formed at
C Cu(OH)2 (s) CuO (s) + H2O (l)
the bottom when heating up.
Precipitate dissolved into hot, light blue
D CuO (s) + H2SO4 (aq) CuSO4 (aq) + H2O (l)
liquid.
Solution was extremely hot. Brown's solid
E CuSO4 (aq) + Zn(s) Cu(s) + ZnSO4 (aq) is shaped. The solution remained a light
blue solution.
*R = Reaction

Calculations
Balancing the equations:
A. Cu(s) + 4HNO3(aq)  Cu(NO3)2(aq) + 2NO2(aq) + 2H2O(l)
B. Cu(NO3)2 (aq) + 2NaOH (aq) Cu(OH)2 (s) + 2NaNO3 (aq)
The rest of the equations are already balanced.

Discussion
Classification of reactions
A. Reaction A was a redox reaction, because Cu appeared as an element on the
left side of the equation and then became part of the compound [copper(II)
nitrate ] on the other side. Specifically, it is a single displacement redox
reaction, since Cu has replaced H in HNO3.
 B. Reaction B was a precipitation reaction due to the formation of solid copper
(II) hydroxide particles.
C. Reaction C was a redox decomposition reaction because copper (II)
hydroxide had "decomposed" or broken down into different compounds.
D. Reaction D is a redox reaction, more precisely a double displacement
reaction, since Cu has displaced H, and SO4 has displaced O.
E. Reaction E is also a redox reaction, but this time a single displacement has
occurred when Zn displaced Cu.

The purpose of this experiment is to recover all the copper that you start with in an analytically
pure form. This is the test for your laboratory skills. The percentage of copper yield may be
expressed as the ratio of the recovered weight to the initial weight multiplied by 100:

Percentage Yield = mass of copper recovered (actual yield) X 100

mass of copper wire (theoretical yield)

Initial mass of copper wire

Mass of recovered copper and beaker
Mass of beaker
Mass of recovered cover
Percentage yield
Palagay na lang resultsss

Conclusion
The experiment was very successful. The experimental value for copper metal obtained
was ___________g and the theoretical value for copper was _________g. There were
abundant opportunities of error in this experiment. Familiarity with simple laboratory procedures
has been acquired and working in a group has been plus points in this lab as we learn more about
team work.
References