Required Practicals - Making Salts

Question 1

What is the objective of the making salts practical?

Answer 1

To prepare pure dry copper sulfate crystals.

Question 2

What is the apparatus for the making salts practical?

Answer 2

-dilute sulfuric acid
-measuring cylinder
-copper (II) oxide powder
-a spatula
-glass rod
-100 cm3 beaker
-250cm3 beaker
-Bunsen burner
-tripod
-gauze
-heatproof mat
-filter funnel and paper
-conical flask
-evaporating basin
-crystallising dish.

Question 3

What is the method for the making salts practical?

Answer 3

-Measure 40cm3 sulfuric acid and put it into the 100cm3 beaker
-Set up the bunsen burner. Put the beaker on the gauze and heat the acid gently until it is almost boiling. Turn of the bunsen.
-Remove the glass beaker from the tripod. Use the spatula to add a small amount of copper (II) oxide powder to the hot acid. Stir with the glass rod. The copper (II) oxide will disappear and the solution will turn blue.
-Add some more copper (II) oxide until some of it remains after stirring.
-Allow the apparatus to cool completely.
-Set up the filter funnel and paper over the conical flask. Filter the contents of the beaker.
-Pour the filtrate from the conical flask into the evaporating basin.
-Set up a water bath using the 250cm3 beaker on the tripod and gauze.
-Evaporate the filtrate gently using the water bath.
-When the crystals form, stop heating the water bath.
-Pour the remaining solution into the crystallising dish.
-Leave the crystallising dish in a cool place for at least 24 hours.
-Remove the crystals from the concentrated solution with a spatula. Gently pat the crystals dry between two pieces of filter paper.

Question 4

What is the main reaction used in the making salts practical?

Answer 4

Sulfuric acid + Copper (II) oxide –> Copper (II) sulfate + Water