Extraction of Metals - Result Question 44

44. Upon heating with $Cu _2 S$, the reagent(s) that give copper metal is/are

(2014 Adv.)

(a) $CuFeS _2$

(b) $CuO$

(c) $Cu _2 O$

(d) $CuSO _4$

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Answer:

Correct Answer: 44. (b, c, d)

Solution:

  1. (b) $4 CuO \xrightarrow{1100^{\circ} C} 2 Cu _2 O+O _2$

$ 2 Cu _2 O+Cu _2 S \stackrel{\Delta}{\longrightarrow} 6 Cu+SO _2 $

(c) $Cu _2 S+2 Cu _2 O \xrightarrow{\Delta} 6 Cu+SO _2$

(d) $CuSO _4 \xrightarrow{720^{\circ} C} CuO+SO _2+\frac{1}{2} O _2$

$ \begin{array}{r} 4 CuO \xrightarrow{1100^{\circ} C} 2 Cu _2 O+O _2 \\ 2 Cu _2 O+Cu _2 S \stackrel{\Delta}{\longrightarrow} 6 Cu+SO _2 \end{array} $

Reaction is believed to proceed as

$ \begin{aligned} Cu _2 S & \rightleftharpoons 2 Cu^{+}+S^{2-} \\ 2 Cu _2 O & \rightleftharpoons 4 Cu^{+}+2 O^{2-} \\ S^{2-}+2 O^{2-} & \longrightarrow SO _2+6 e^{-} \\ 6 Cu^{+}+6 e^{-} & \longrightarrow 6 Cu ; E _{\text {cell }}^{\circ}=0.52 \end{aligned} $

Here, copper sulphide is reduced to copper metal. Solidified copper has blistered appearance due to evolution of $SO _2$ and thus obtained copper is known as blister copper.

Other compounds which give $Cu$ are

(i) $CuO$ as $4 CuO \xrightarrow{1100^{\circ} C} 2 Cu _2 O+O _2$

$ 2 Cu _2 O+Cu _2 S \stackrel{\Delta}{\longrightarrow} 6 Cu+SO _2 $

(ii) $CuSO _4$ as $CuSO _4 \xrightarrow{720^{\circ} C} CuO+SO _2+\frac{1}{2} O _2$

$ \begin{array}{r} 4 CuO \stackrel{\Delta}{\longrightarrow} 2 Cu _2 O+O _2 \\ 2 Cu _2 O+Cu _2 S \stackrel{\Delta}{\longrightarrow} 6 Cu+SO _2 \end{array} $

While $CuFeS _2$ will not give $Cu$ on heating. The heating in the presence of $O _2$ gives $Cu _2 S$ and $FeS$ with the evolution of $SO _2$.