How do you extract copper from copper carbonate using only toothpicks... rest of the list is in details?

Question

The materials one can use are a bunsen-burner, clay triangle, wooden splint/ triangle, crucible and cover.

So by using only these materials how can one extract copper from copper carbonate?

Answer 1

Put the Copper carbonate in the crucible and heat it over the bunsen burner. The following reaction will happen:

CuCO3 --heat-> CuO + CO2

you will see a change in color from blue/green to black.

Now light your toothpick on fire and quickly put it in the crucible and put the cover on in such a way, that theres only a very little acces for air to enter he crucible. In that way you reduce the O2 in the crucible and when the wood burns it will form CO instead of CO2.....and it will burn at a slow rate. During the whole time you continue heating the crucible, and the following reaction will take place:

CuO + CO ---> Cu + CO2

The copper is reduced to form its metallic form, and the carbon is oxidized from +2 in CO to +4 in CO2.

Hope it helped!

Answer 2

From previous answer: "if it is copper (I) carbonate the formula is Cu2CO3 if it is copper (II) carbonate the formula is CuCO3" To add to this the general rule is: The carbonate ion carries a 2- charge, this means that it will want to bond ionically accepting two electrons. So in the case of the copper (I) carbonate the copper ion carries a 1+ charge, and in copper (II) carbonate it carries a 2+ charge. Group 1 metals always carry a 1+ charge, Group 2 metals always carry a 2+ charge. Transition metals will carry a varied charge up to 4+, and can change due to the d-shell splitting into subshells.

Answer 3

You need to realise that copper metal can only be obtained from copper carbonate by reduction, and that the only reducing agent that you are allowed will be carbon.

I suggest you think about heating the copper carbonate to form copper oxide. Also heat the wooden splint in the absence of air to form some charcoal. Then mix up the charcoal and the copper oxide and heat.