Copper reacts with sulfuric acid to produce copper hydrates and ions, which can generate electricity. Copper sulfate, a salt, can be made by mixing sulfuric acid and copper oxide. This salt can also be used to produce electricity. The reaction between copper and sulfuric acid has many industrial and educational applications.
There are many connections between copper and sulfuric acid. Copper does not dissolve in many acids, but in concentrated sulfuric acid it breaks down by reaction. The combination of copper and sulfuric acid can produce copper hydrates or ions which stick to the water. Electricity can be generated when copper comes into contact with the right solution of sulfuric acid. Copper salts can be produced in a reaction of sulfuric acid and copper oxide.
Mixing copper and sulfuric acid causes the copper to change properties and oxidize or react. This oxidation causes the copper to dissolve into copper compounds which form both hydrates and ions. Copper ions are suspended in the solution due to the acidic properties of sulfuric acid, which also produces sulfate ions. Hydrates are like ions, except that they use water to form complex ions with copper ions. The other ions will remain suspended because they balance an electrical charge between the copper and sulfate ions.
Copper sulfate, a salt, is similar to copper and sulfate ions. Once all of the water is removed, those hydrated ions form a salt called anhydrous copper sulfate. This salt can be made directly by mixing sulfuric acid and copper oxide, a base. The water separates out in the reaction and the salt forms naturally without drying out. This concentrated form of copper and sulfuric acid can also be used to make electricity.
The production of electricity from copper sulfate is done using a solution of dilute sulfuric acid and anhydrous copper sulfate. Using dilute sulfuric acid will not oxidize metallic copper for use as a heating pad. Using a copper plate, a zinc plate and some electrical wires, it is possible to send the extra charge from the ions that the salt produces in the weak acid to a small light bulb. This can be done by placing both plates in the solution and touching the wires to the metal part of the bulb. Zinc will produce hydrogen gas when immersed in sulfuric acid, so enough gas may be produced in the electrical system to cause choking if inhaled.
Copper is less reactive than many metals, but does react with sulfuric acid. This sulfuric acid connection has many uses in industry and in learning chemistry. Sulfur dioxide is produced when copper metal is heated in concentrated sulfuric acid and the resulting copper ions can easily react in several other copper related reactions.
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