what would be the reaction between copper Cu and sodium hydroxide in aqueous anoxic solution (No oxygen, no air, no any oxidant) ?
2007-12-16 08:39:38 · 3 answers · asked by Manuelon 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Chemistry
Well, eh-ph diagram shows an equilibrium system between Cu(0) and Cu2O at very high alkaline conditions, so there is actually a reaction....
2007-12-16 08:50:13 · update #1
No reaction. Copper is mostly unreactive unless put in hot sulfuric acid or something like that, although NaOH is a strong base. Aluminum or zinc would probably react with sodium hydroxide though. I'm not sure how an anoxic solution would affect this.
2007-12-16 08:52:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Note that no oxygen means no copper oxide! (I believe that's the point of having an anoxic system; it'll prevent oxidation of copper by O2 and leave the job to OH.)
Copper is indeed not very reactive, but NaOH dissociates, and Cu(OH)2 is insoluble, so its formation and removal from solution will probably gradually convert the sodium hydroxide into copper (II) hydroxide. This, however, assumes that copper is in ionic form, Cu2+, in solution; I don't think metallic copper reacts with anything but very strng acids.
2007-12-16 09:06:54 · answer #2 · answered by periwinkle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you sure there would be any? I think copper is too unreactive.
2007-12-16 08:45:08 · answer #3 · answered by Facts Matter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋