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Chemistry and Chemists № 2 2024

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Dissolution of copper in citric acid - part 4


Volodymyr M. Viter


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The next experiment that can be carried out with copper citrate obtained in the first part of the article is the reaction with zinc metal. The copper citrate solution contained excess citric acid, which could react with the zinc also.

I poured 10 ml of the copper citrate solution into a small glass and added four zinc granules. The active formation of hydrogen bubbles began immediately. The surface of the zinc began to be covered with a dark coating (metallic copper was deposited on the surface of the metal). The release of gas increased over time, and hydrogen bubbles began to tear off black copper particles from the surface of the zinc.

Over time, the copper coating became like a brown sponge, which separated from the surface of the zinc and formed a voluminous precipitate at the bottom. The colour of the solution began gradually changing from emerald green to light brown. The release of hydrogen weakened but did not stop even after a day.

The solution nearly became discoloured due to the reduction of Cu2+ cations to copper metal, but then the liquid became turbid white. Later, a white precipitate formed. It is probably zinc citrate. After the formation of the precipitate, the solution acquired a yellowish tint.

Thus, zinc metal displaced copper from the citrate. In parallel, a reaction of zinc with citric acid occurred.

After the experiments, a little copper citrate solution remained in the flask. I poured it into a Petri dish so that the solution gradually evaporated and crystals of copper citrate and citric acid formed. The crystals turned out not beautiful. In the case of copper acetate, the crystals formed after the solution evaporated were much more pretty.


Реакция цитрата меди с металлическим цинком - часть 4
Следующий эксперимент, который можно провести с цитратом меди, полученным в первой части статьи, - реакция с металлическим цинком. Раствор цитрата меди содержал избыток лимонной кислоты, которая также может реагировать с цинком.

В небольшой стаканчик налил 10 мл раствора цитрата меди, добавил четыре гранулы цинка. Сразу же началось выделение пузырьков водорода - довольно активное. Поверхность цинка стала покрываться темным налетом (на поверхности металла осаждалась металлическая медь). Выделение газа со временем усиливалось, пузырьки водорода начали срывать с поверхности цинка черные частички меди.

Со временем налет меди приобрел вид коричневой губки, которая отделялась от поверхности цинка и образовала объемный осадок на дне. Цвет раствора стал плавно меняться с изумрудно-зеленого на светло-коричневый. Выделение водорода ослабевало, но не прекратилось даже через сутки.

На некоторое время раствор почти обесцветился (поскольку катион Cu2+ был восстановлен до металлической меди), но потом раствор стал бело-мутным. Позже образовался белый осадок. Вероятно, это цитрат цинка. После образования осадка раствор приобрел желтоватый оттенок.

Таким образом, металлический цинк вытеснил медь из цитрата. Параллельно происходила реакция цинка с лимонной кислотой.

После экспериментов в колбе осталось немного раствора цитрата меди. Вылил его в чашу Петри, чтобы раствор постепенно испарился и образовались кристаллы цитрата меди и лимонной кислоты. Кристаллы получились некрасивыми. В случае ацетата меди кристаллы, образовавшиеся после испарения раствора, были гораздо красивее.


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Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal
Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal

Reaction of copper citrate with zinc metal



Evaporation of the copper citrate solution
Evaporation of the copper citrate solution

Evaporation of the copper citrate solution

Evaporation of the copper citrate solution

Evaporation of the copper citrate solution

Evaporation of the copper citrate solution



[ Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum metals pt.2 ] [ Copper, Silver, Gold, Platinum metals pt.1 ] [ Zinc and Cadmium ]

Zinc / Displacement of zinc by copper - Discussion on the forum
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Chemistry of complex compounds; Chelates - Discussion on the forum
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