Making Copper Oxide Bookmark Guide
(making copper oxide)
**What You Need:** Copper metal (wire/sheet), heat source (gas stove/lamp), tongs, ceramic dish. *OR* Copper strips, battery (6-9V), wires, salt water, glass container. Safety goggles, gloves, ventilation essential!
**Method 1: Heating Copper**
Clean copper piece thoroughly. Heat strongly over flame/lamp using tongs. Watch color change: red copper turns black/purple/blue as oxide forms. Keep heating until no more color change occurs. Let cool completely. The black coating is copper(II) oxide. Scrape off carefully. Avoid overheating thin wires into balls.
**Method 2: Electrolysis**
Fill glass with salt water solution. Connect one copper strip to battery positive (+) terminal. Connect another copper strip to battery negative (-) terminal. Submerge both strips in salt water, not touching. Bubbles form. At positive (+) strip: Copper dissolves. At negative (-) strip: Copper re-deposits messily. After 10-30 mins, disconnect power. Remove positive (+) strip. It will have a black/red coating of copper(I) oxide and copper(II) oxide. Scrape off coating. Rinse and dry the flakes.
**Important Notes**
(making copper oxide)
Both methods produce copper oxides. Heating usually gives black copper(II) oxide. Electrolysis often gives a mix including red copper(I) oxide. Work in well-ventilated area. Copper gets extremely hot – use tongs! Electrolysis generates hydrogen gas (flammable) and chlorine gas (toxic) – ventilate well! Wear goggles always. Dispose of waste responsibly. Store oxide in sealed container. This is for educational demonstration only.
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