Pyrometallurgy Lab
Introduction
Metals are an important resource for industry and technology. Most metals are found in
the earth’s crust as ions in an ionic compound. These compounds are usually part of a mineral in
an ore sample. Setting a metal free from its ore is a reduction process in which the metal ions
gain electrons to become neutral metal atoms.
Three methods are used to process ores and obtain metals. These methods are
pyrometallurgy, electrometallurgy, and hydrometallurgy. In this lab activity, you will remove
copper from the compound copper(II) oxide by the process of pyrometallurgy. The equation for
this reaction is given below:
CuO(s) + CH4(g) → Cu(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(g)
You will then determine the percent copper in copper(II) oxide from your data and compare it to
the accepted value for percent copper in copper(II) oxide using the formula for the compound
and the periodic table.
Procedure
1) Determine the mass of a clean, dry test tube.
2) Measure approximately 2 grams of copper(II) oxide into a weigh boat. Record the appearance
of the copper(II) oxide.
3) Transfer the copper(II) oxide from the weigh boat into the test tube from #1 and determine
the mass of the test tube and copper(II) oxide.
4) Set up the apparatus shown to the right using two gas outlets, a
Bunsen burner, a ring stand, a clamp, and the test tube from #3.
5) Adjust a slow gas flow through the glass tube inserted into the
test tube. Carefully ignite the gas at the mouth of the test tube.
Adjust the flow to obtain a small flame at the end of the test tube.
6) Light the Bunsen burner with a low flame and gently move it
along the test tube for a few seconds. Now turn the burner to a
hot burning flame and put the burner under the end of the test tube with the copper(II) oxide
in it. Heat until the copper(II) oxide is all converted to copper. Record your observations in
the data table.
7) Carefully heat the entire length of the test tube to remove any condensed moisture. Turn off
the Bunsen burner. Leave the other flame going until the test tube is cool.
8) When the test tube is cool, turn off the gas. Remove the test tube from the clamp and
determine the mass.
9) Carefully tap the product from the test tube. Observe the product and record your
observations.
Pyrometallurgy Report Sheet
Name: _____________________________________
Period: ______
Data
Mass of empty test tube: _____________________________
Mass of test tube + copper(II) oxide: ________________________
Observations of copper(II) oxide before heating: ______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Observations of copper(II) oxide after heating: ______________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Mass of test tube + copper product: ________________________
Calculations
Show all of your work. Box in your final answer.
1) Calculate the percent copper in copper(II) oxide using the formula and the periodic table.
2) Calculate the mass of the copper(II) oxide you used in this reaction.
3) Calculate the mass of the copper product produced after the reaction.
4) Calculate the percent copper in the copper(II) oxide using your calculations from
numbers 2 and 3 above.
5) Record the class data for the percent copper in copper(II) oxide.
6) Calculate the mean/average for the class data.
7) Calculate the deviation from the mean for each group’s value.
8) Determine the precision of the class data by calculating the average deviation for the
class.
9) Determine the accuracy of the class data by calculating the percent error for the class
mean of copper in copper(II) oxide using the formula below:
(
)
(
(
)
)
10) Balance the equation for this reaction.
11) Determine the oxidizing agent and reducing agent of the above equation. Support your
answer.