Name: _________________________________________
Partner(s):____________________________________
Class M3(01)
Date: ________
Question: Is it possible to transform elemental copper into different compounds and recover the
element at the end of the series of reactions?
Background Information
Chemical Symbols and Abbreviations
Chemical/Word
Solid
Aqueous (dissolved in water)
Copper
Silver nitrate
Copper nitrate
Silver
Sodium carbonate
Copper carbonate
Sodium nitrate
Copper oxide
Carbon dioxide
Sulfuric acid
Copper sulfate
Water
Iron
Iron sulfate
React/And
To produce
Gas
Copper Cycle reaction outline
I.
Copper + silver nitrate
II.
Copper nitrate + sodium carbonate
III.
Heated copper carbonate
IV.
Copper oxide + sulfuric acid
V.
Iron + copper sulfate
Symbol/Abbreviation
s
aq
Cu
AgNO3
Cu(NO3)2
Ag
Na2CO3
CuCO3
NaNO3
CuO
CO2
H2SO4
CuSO4
H2O
Fe
FeSO4
+

g
Part I: Copper + silver nitrate
Materials: Copper wire, silver nitrate solution, 2 test tubes, test tube rack, magnifying glass, lamp
Procedure:
1. DOCUMENT EACH STEP OF THE PROCEDURE WITH EITHER PHOTOS OR VIDEO.
2. Place 5 mL (2.5 cm) of silver nitrate solution into a test tube.
3. Add a small piece of copper wire, bending the top of the wire to act as a handle above the test tube.
4. Observe the results over time using the magnifying glass and lamp.
5. Video or photograph the changes over time. Connect written observations to the media, either as
titles, captions or call-outs (like the speech bubbles in comic books).
6. After about 10 minutes decant the solution through a filter paper into a clean test tube.
7. Save the decanted solution for Part II. Be sure to label with your team’s names.
Word equation for this reaction:
Copper (s) reacts with silver nitrate (aq) to produce copper nitrate (aq) and silver (s)
Use the table above to write the chemical equation with the correct symbols:
Put this equation and all your documentation and observations in your eLab report.
Part II: Copper nitrate + sodium carbonate
Materials: Copper nitrate solution (from Part I), sodium carbonate solution, 2 test tubes, 50 mL beaker
Procedure:
1. DOCUMENT EACH STEP OF THE PROCEDURE WITH EITHER PHOTOS OR VIDEO.
2. Place about 3 mL of sodium carbonate solution in a clean test tube.
3. Add the copper nitrate solution from Part I to the test tube containing sodium carbonate solution.
4. Document and record your observations.
5. Filter the precipitate using the apparatus shown by your teacher.
6. After filtration, place the filter paper and residue to dry.
7. Create a DIAGRAM of the filtration apparatus.
8. Save this dried material for Part III. Be sure to label with your team’s names.
Word equation:
Copper nitrate (aq) reacts with sodium carbonate (aq) to produce copper carbonate (s) and __________
Chemical equation:
Put this equation and all your documentation and observations in your eLab report.
Part III: Heating copper carbonate
Materials: Flame source (Bunsen burner, e.g.), matches, Pyrex test tube, wooden tongs, safety glasses,
dry copper carbonate (from Part II)
Procedure:
1. DOCUMENT EACH STEP OF THE PROCEDURE WITH EITHER PHOTOS OR VIDEO.
2. Place the dry copper carbonate (from Part II) into a test tube.
3. Using the tongs, heat the test tube in the Bunsen burner’s flame for a few minutes. BE
EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND TAKE THE NECESSARY SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
4. Save the resulting material for Part IV. Be sure to label with your team’s names.
Word equation:
Copper carbonate (s) is heated to produce copper oxide (s) and carbon dioxide (g).
Chemical equation:
Extension question: How could you test to see if the gas was carbon dioxide?
Put the answer to the extension question, the chemical equation, and all your documentation and
observations in your eLab report.
Part IV: Copper oxide + sulfuric acid
Materials: Copper oxide (from Part III), 1 M sulfuric acid, dropper, glass rod
Procedure:
1. DOCUMENT EACH STEP OF THE PROCEDURE WITH EITHER PHOTOS OR VIDEO.
2. Let the test tube containing copper oxide from Part III cool down for 5 minutes.
3. Add 4 mL of sulfuric acid CAUTION: SULFURIC ACID IS VERY CORROSIVE!!!
4. Record your observations in your eLab report.
5. Save the solution for Part V. Be sure to label with your team’s names.
Word equation [one product of the reaction is copper sulfate(aq)]:
Chemical equation:
Put the chemical equation and all your documentation and observations in your eLab report.
Part V: Iron + copper sulfate
Materials: iron nail, string, copper sulfate solution (from Part IV)
Procedure:
1. DOCUMENT EACH STEP OF THE PROCEDURE WITH EITHER PHOTOS OR VIDEO.
2. Attach a piece of string to an iron nail.
3. Suspend the iron nail in the solution of copper sulfate (from Part IV).
4. Wait.
5. Record your observations.
6. Save the resulting materials for proper disposal.
Word equation:
Chemical equation:
Put the chemical equation and all your documentation and observations in your eLab report.
OVERALL CONCLUSION based on all five experiments.
As a team and using the document “How To Write A Conclusion” from mshorr.weebly.com, create an
overall conclusion and include it in your eLab report. To make your conclusion the best, be ready to do a
few drafts and proofread it. Writing is rewriting.