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Questions 4.4.3

You are required to prepare copper (II) chloride crystals by reacting a suitable acid with a carbonate. Explain how you would go about this. Include an equation for the reaction. Describe the observations made during the reaction.



Answers to Questions 4.4.3

  1. Warm about 50 ml of dilute hydrochloric acid in a glass beaker.

    Add copper (II) carbonate powder in small quantities, stirring with a glass rod till a small excess of the carbonate remains unreacted.

    Filter off the excess copper (II) carbonate.

    Heat the solution to saturate it. Then allow it to cool and crystallize.

    Filter off the mother liquor and mop the crystals dry.

    Equation: CuCO3(s)   +   2HCl(aq)   ⟶   CuCl2(aq)   +   H2O(l)   +   CO2(g)

  2. During the reaction, there is a vigorous effervescence. A colourless gas is produced. The gas forms a white precipitate with lime water. A green solution is formed.