How to Make Copper Acetate
Mix acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide., Heat the solution., Add copper to the solution., Monitor the reaction.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Mix acetic acid and hydrogen peroxide.
The household version of acetic acid is vinegar.
It is a dilute form of acetic acid that shows up in many home chemistry experiments.
Mix it with hydrogen peroxide, which is usually kept in homes to clean cuts and scrapes (in the brown plastic bottle).
You should use a 50/50 mixture.For example, if you use one cup of vinegar, use one cup of hydrogen peroxide.
It is best to use plain white vinegar.
Wear gloves and goggles when dealing with acids and oxidizers.
You don’t want them on your skin or in your eyes. -
Step 2: Heat the solution.
Though the solution does not have to be boiling for the reaction to occur, bringing it to a boil takes out the guess work.
Put the solution on the stove and let it come to a slight boil.
Once at a boil, it is ready to react with copper to form copper acetate., Use copper wire or a penny to supply copper for the reaction.
Lower the copper into the solution being careful not to splash yourself or touch the hot solution.
You should be wearing gloves and goggles in case the solution does splash.If you are using a penny, know that you should only use pennies minted in or before
1982.
After that, pennies have been made from copper plated zinc and only contain about
2.5% copper (down from 88-95% copper up to 1982)., Watch for the solution to change color.
A blue color indicates that copper acetate has been made.
This should happen in a matter of minutes.If the solution does not turn blue, copper acetate was not formed.
In this case, check you reagents.
Make sure the vinegar and peroxide are in correct proportions and that the chemicals are not expired.
Also, verify that your copper source is truly copper and not just another metal plated with copper. -
Step 3: Add copper to the solution.
-
Step 4: Monitor the reaction.
Detailed Guide
The household version of acetic acid is vinegar.
It is a dilute form of acetic acid that shows up in many home chemistry experiments.
Mix it with hydrogen peroxide, which is usually kept in homes to clean cuts and scrapes (in the brown plastic bottle).
You should use a 50/50 mixture.For example, if you use one cup of vinegar, use one cup of hydrogen peroxide.
It is best to use plain white vinegar.
Wear gloves and goggles when dealing with acids and oxidizers.
You don’t want them on your skin or in your eyes.
Though the solution does not have to be boiling for the reaction to occur, bringing it to a boil takes out the guess work.
Put the solution on the stove and let it come to a slight boil.
Once at a boil, it is ready to react with copper to form copper acetate., Use copper wire or a penny to supply copper for the reaction.
Lower the copper into the solution being careful not to splash yourself or touch the hot solution.
You should be wearing gloves and goggles in case the solution does splash.If you are using a penny, know that you should only use pennies minted in or before
1982.
After that, pennies have been made from copper plated zinc and only contain about
2.5% copper (down from 88-95% copper up to 1982)., Watch for the solution to change color.
A blue color indicates that copper acetate has been made.
This should happen in a matter of minutes.If the solution does not turn blue, copper acetate was not formed.
In this case, check you reagents.
Make sure the vinegar and peroxide are in correct proportions and that the chemicals are not expired.
Also, verify that your copper source is truly copper and not just another metal plated with copper.
About the Author
Julie Moore
Julie Moore is an experienced writer with over 7 years of expertise in education and learning. Passionate about sharing practical knowledge, Julie creates easy-to-follow guides that help readers achieve their goals.
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