COPPERBy Vibha S, Rishi, Ambalika & Meghna

Periodic Table

Reactivity Series

All about Copper

Atomic Number : 29

Melting Point : 1083 Celsius

Boiling Point : 2595 Celsius

Density : 8.9 g.cm-3 at 20°C

Discovered by :The ancients

Latin name : Cuprum

Valencies : +1 and +2

Extraction according to reactivity.

Reactions of Copper

• Reaction with Oxygen : No reaction

• Reaction with halogens : Cu(s) + F2(g) → CuF2(s) [white]

Cu(s) + Cl2(g) → CuCl2(s) [yellow-brown]Cu(s) + Br2(g) → CuBr2(s) [black]

• Reaction with with acids : Dilute acids - No reactionNitric acid - Reaction takes place (HNO3 is an

oxidising agent)Cu + 4HNO3 –>

Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO2 + 2H2O

Properties of copper

• An excellent electrical conductor

• An excellent thermal conductor

• Tough

• Non magnetic

• Corrosion resistant

• Anti-bacterial

• Recyclable

• Ductile

Uses of Copper

• Pipes

• Radiators

• Decorative use

• Jewellery

• Statues

• Parts of buildings

• food preparation

• hospitals

• coins (biocidal copper)

• door knobs

• plumbing systems.

• Wires & Electrical cables.

Corrosion Resistant & Tough

Anti-bacterial

Ductile

What is an Ore?

• A naturally occurring solid material, which contains a mineral or metal.

• The ores are extracted through mining at low costs and then refined to extract the valuable element.

About Copper

Important Ores of copper

• Copper pyrite or chalcopyrite (CuFeS2).

• Chalcocite (Cu2S) or copper glance.

• Malachite green [CuCO3.Cu(OH)2].

• Azurite blue [2CuCO3.Cu(OH)2].

• Bornite (3Cu2S.Fe2S3) or peacock ore.

• Melaconite (CuO)

About Copper

• Copper has been one of the most important metal since the oldest times of history. It was the first metal to be mined and crafted by man. It was initially extractable at the surface of ground and was available in great quantities

• Copper concentrates produced by mines are sold to smelters and refiners who treat the ore and refine the copper

About Copper

• Copper is one of the major industrial metal because of it's ductility, malleability, thermal and electric conductivity and resistance to corrosion.

• The top copper mining countries are Chile, U.S.A., Peru, China, Australia, Indonesia, Russia and Canada

• While the U.S. is the world's second-largest producer of copper, it is the world's largest consumer of copper.

Process of extraction

On an industrial scale copper is extracted from its sulfide ore known as copper pyrite (CuFeS2) by the smelting method.

There are four main steps to extract copper:

• Concentration: CuFeS2 is concentrated by "froth-flotation method". Crushed ore is suspended in water containing pine oil. Particles of ore get wet by oil and float as a skimmed froth.

Process of extraction

1. Roasting: The concentrated ore is roasted in the furnace in the presence of oxygen. During roasting sulfur, arsenic and antimony are converted into oxides and are removed.

• Smelting: Roast furnace. In the blast furnace the hot roasted ore then is mixed with coke and silica (sand) which then goes through a blr converts FeO to Iron silicate (Fe3).

Process of extraction

• Bessemerisation: The substance that is created after smelting is put into a special furnace know as the "Bessemer converter".

Process of extraction

Equations of the whole reaction:

2Cu2S + 3O2 -->2Cu2O + 2SO22Cu2O + Cu2S -->6Cu + SO2

2FeS + 3O2 --> 2FeO + 2SO2

Copper obtained by this process is know as the blister copper which is 97.98% pure.

Environmental Implications

• Extraction of copper consumes a lot of energy.

• Released in the air when fossil fuels are burnt.

• Copper mines are left as they are after all the copper has been extracted.

• Water pollution around copper mines.

• Affects soil and plants largely.

• Causes acid rain.

Bibliography

• http://www.citycollegiate.com/dblock4.htm

• http://www.lenntech.com/periodic/elements/cu.htm

• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/science/edexcel/metals/obtaining_using_metalsrev2.shtml

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