Making salts 2. Science.

Aim: To produce copper sulfate salt by reacting copper oxide with an acid.

Equipment: Copper oxide powder, dilute (0.5 mol L-1) sulfuric acid, 50 ml measuring cylinder, two 100 mL beakers, Bunsen burner, tripod, gauze mat, funnel, filter paper, thermometer, spatula, evaporating basin, stirring rod. 

Method:

1. Add 20mL of sulfuric acid to a 100mL beaker. Heat the acid until it reaches 70 degrees celsius. Turn off your Bunsen burner.

2. Once heated. Use a spatula to add pea-sized portions of copper oxide to the beaker. Stir the mixture for 30 seconds.

3.  Repeat step 2 until no more will dissolve. Allow the beaker to cool.

4. Fold the filter paper and place it in the funnel. Place the filter funnel into the second beaker.

5. Make sure the beaker is cool enough to hold at the top. The contents should still be hot. You may need your teacher to complete this step.

6. Gently swirl the contents of the beaker to mix, and then pour into the filter paper in the funnel. Allow to filter through.

7. Rinse the beaker you used to heat the mixture previously, and place it back on top of your tripod filled with 50-60mL of water. 

8. Place the evaporating basin on top of the beaker and carefully pour some of the solution from the beaker into the evaporating basin.  

9. Gently heat the beaker until the solution in the evaporating basin has reduced by half. 

10. Leave the evaporating basin to cool. Once cool move the evaporating basin to a warm place where it will not be disturbed (i.e. a window-sill) and observe over the next few days. Blue copper sulfate crystals should form.