what dissolves copper so i can take this wire i got and use it for source of copper to plate on to a solid wire of copper? trying to make a bunch of copper wire in to a solid copper wire without attempting to melt in down instead i would like to dissolve it in some sort of acid maybe then use electricity to plate it to a solide wire
Nitric acid will dissolve copper (the reaction will generate various nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are very toxic if inhaled). But a better way to make a plating solution is with a copper salt dissolved in sulfuric acid. This process is used to purify copper after smelting from ore. Put the copper source as the positive electrode (anode) and the object you want to plate at the negative electrode (cathode). Copper(II) sulfate is the most common salt used for this, and is probably the most readily available copper salt. Look for it at a pottery supply store or buy it online. You could also try heating the copper in concentrated sulfuric acid until the solution turns blue - hot sulfuric acid will dissolve copper.
