Standard level
Chemical synthesis involves preparing a new compound through chemical reaction(s). The process of synthesis usually involves three steps.
- 1. Reaction
- 2. Separation
- 3. Purification
The aim is always to prepare a new compound with the minimum of waste and maximum purity and yield.
Background
Metal oxides react with dilute acids making salts. In this experiment copper(II) oxide is dissolved in hot sulfuric acid according to the following equation:
Reaction of copper(II) oxide and sulfuric acid
CuO(s) + H2SO4(aq) → CuSO4(aq) + H2O(l)
It is possible to determine the limiting reagent from the amounts used and from this calculate the theoretical yield
The actual yield can be found by experiment and a percentage yield calculated.
Chemicals
- Copper(II) oxide
- Sulfuric acid (1 mol dm-3)
- Distilled water
Apparatus
- Pipette, 50ml
- Conical flask, 250ml
- Filter funnel
- Filter paper
- Evaporating basin
- Wash bottle
- Small Bunsen burner, tripod and gauze
- Accurately weigh approximately 5.00 g of copper(II) oxide
- Transfer the solid to a 250ml conical flask
- Using a 50ml pipette, transfer 50cm3 of sulfuric acid (1 mol dm-3) into the conical flask.
- Warm and boil gently over a small Bunsen flame for about 5 minutes.
- Filter the hot mixture into a pre-weighed evaporating basin. Rinse the contents of the conical flask through the filter paper using a wash bottle.
- Rinse any residue using a little distilled water.
- Set the basin aside to evaporate.