Copper (II) Oxide
Materials:
40 g Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
250 g Copper (II) Sulfate Pentahydrate (CuSO4.7H2O
or
125 g Copper (II) Sulfate, anhydrous (CuSO4)
Enough distilled water to dissolve both compounds separately. ~80 mL for NaOH and ~ 1 L for Copper Sulfate
Proceedure:
1. Dissolve both compounds separatly in water solutions. This concentrated of a NaOH solution may damage glass.
2. Mix the two solutions together. A blue/brown/black precipitate will form. Allow to settle.
3. Filter out precipitate. Use filtrate to wash any remaining sediment from beaker. Wash several times with water, until filtrate is not blue. You now have Copper (II) Hydroxide.
4. Scrape remaining solid into a pan/beaker for heating. Begin heating. Make sure you reach at least 170oC. This is the decomposition point of the hydroxide.
5. Production of steam is common. Continue heating until a uniform dry black mass is acheived. Heat for an additional 10 min. to make sure conversion complete. DO NOT HEAT IN METAL PANS!!!!! When the water of hydration comes off It will react with the metal, making the whole proceedure useless. I found this out the hard way with one of my famous aluminum can crucibles.
6. Congratulations, you are now the proud owner of Copper (II) Oxide, suitable for all pyrotechnicing/chemistrying need. Store in air tight bottle. Reacts with air to form the hydroxide and carbonate.
The yield should be close to theoretical. The insolubility of the hydroxide pushes the equilibrium to the right. One of the major sources of loss is anything stuck to filter or getting through filter. If done correctly you should have something like 80 grams of black solid. If more than 80 grams, you didn't heat long enough, or your scale is broken.
