In the second stage of extracting copper, copper oxide, (CuO) is reduced using carbon.Describe and exlplain what happens in this reaction?GCSE question please help thanks
if you see the ellingham diagram ...then you will notice that the Cu2O curve is almost at the top with repect to C,CO and CO,CO2 lines in the temperature range 500-600K..and as you know that an element l found in the Ellingham diagram can act as a reducing agent for a metallic oxide found above it....this means that it is very easy to reduce cuprous oxide to metallic copper by heating with coke ... Cu2O + C -----> 2Cu + CO
Extracting Copper From Copper Oxide
when copper(II) oxide is heated with carbon copper(II) oxide + carbon ---> copper + carbon dioxide. 2CuO(s) + C(s) ----> 2Cu(s) + CO2(g) Carbon is oxidised by gaining oxygen to form carbon dioxide. Copper (in CuO) is reduced by losing oxygen to form copper metal. Note that copper has changed from Cu2+ (in CuO) to Cu(s) and so has gained electrons. Cu2+(aq) + 2e-(aq) ---> Cu(s). I think that this website will be useful for you.
