In the lab that i did, a copper wire is placed in silver acetate, and the liquid solution which is copper (II) acetate, turned blue. Why is this? i need to know for my lab report:T
In this reaction, copper is being oxidized from copper metal to copper (II) ions, and silver ions are being reduced to silver metal. Acetate is a spectator ion. Cu -> Cu(2+) + 2e- 2Ag+ + 2e- -> 2Ag The reason you observed a color change is that copper metal is red-orange, but copper (II) ions and compounds are green-blue. This is the same reason copper structures, like the Statue of Liberty, turn green-blue over time, and minerals containing copper, like turquoise, are green-blue. Iron is also well known for changing colors when it is oxidized (rust red).
