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Copper (II) Nitrate is the IUPAC name which is also known as Cupric Nitrate. It is an inorganic salt which is used as a catalyst to aid in various reactions. The colour of the inorganic hydrate is blue. Copper nitrate is also available in five different hydrates forms, the most popular among them are copper II nitrate hemipentahydrate, and Copper II nitrate trihydrate which is used popularly in laboratories and pharmaceuticals.
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Keywords: Nitric Acid, Anhydrous, Copper nitrate, catalyst, redox reaction, hydrates, oxides, inorganic salt.
What is Copper (II) Nitrate?
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Copper(II) Nitrate is a type of inorganic salt which is present in blue crystalline solid form. The chemical formula of Copper (II) Nitrate is Cu (NO3)2. Also, the structure for this type of anhydrous salt is made by 1 cation Cu2+ and 2 anions NO3-.
Copper (II) Nitrate
Copper (II) nitrates, and all other copper nitrates, exist naturally in nature. Moreover, it is also found partially in some minerals like gerhardtite and rouaite. The compound also has 5 different hydrate forms. The most common forms of salts are Cu (NO3)2 and Cu (NO3)2.5H2O. Also, the molar mass of the anhydrous form of Cupric Nitrate is 187.55 g mol?¹ and the tri-hydrate form of the same 241.60 g mol-¹.
Structure and Formula of Copper (II) Nitrate
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The chemical formula for Copper (II) Nitrate is Cu (NO3)2.
Structure of Formula of Copper (II) Nitrate
Read More: Amorphous and Crystalline Solids
Properties of Copper (II) Nitrate
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Copper(II) Nitrate is differentiated accordingly based on its physical and chemical properties:-
Physical Properties
- Copper (II) nitrate is available in blue colour and can retain moisture easily.
- It is crystalline solid in all its hydrated forms.
- The density of Copper (II) nitrate varies as per the retention of water in it.
- The density is 3.05 g mL?¹ for anhydrous 2.32 g mL?¹ for tri-hydrates and 2.07 g mL?¹ for hexa-hydrates.
- The melting point of its anhydrous form is of 256°C and for tri-hydrate form it is 114.5 °C whereas 26.5 °C is for all its hexa-hydrates. Most of it dissolves at high temperatures.
- They are also highly soluble in water, ethanol, and ammonia. However, these 3 forms of hydrates are insoluble in organic solvents like ethyl acetate.
Chemical Properties
There are various chemical reactions that undergo in Copper (II) nitrate. One such reactions is the preparation of cupric oxide by the process of pyrolysis above 180 °C:
2 Cu(NO3)2 → 2 CuO + 4 NO2 + O2
Copper (II) nitrate can also react with acetic anhydride to boost the nitration process of aromatic compounds like benzene.
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Preparation of Copper (II) Nitrate
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Copper (II) nitrate can be produced from metallic copper treated with nitric acid.
Cu + 4 HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + 2 H2O + 2 NO2
It can also be prepared by treating metallic copper with dinitrogen tetroxide:
Cu + 2 N2O4 → Cu(NO3)2 + 2 NO
Uses of Copper (II) Nitrate
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Copper (II) nitrate has many uses:-
- It can be used to manufacture pyrotechnic, blue colours and coats.
- The redox reaction between the copper (II) nitrate and one copper electrode is also used as a classical representation of the voltaic cell.
Copper (II) Nitrate is used in Electrolysis process
- Copper (II) nitrate is also used to generate copper (II) oxide.
- Cupric nitrate is available in two forms i.e. hexahydrate and tri-hydrate which are extensively used in the manufacture of medicines, in chemical analysis, or as an insecticide.
- The material used in making light-sensitive papers are also made by the components of Copper (II) Nitrate. However, it generates toxic oxides of nitrogen while burning the compound.
Safety Hazards
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Copper (II) nitrate can have serious health issues.
- It is accountable for causing irritation in the throat, lungs, eyes and skin.
- Although it is non-combustible compound, if it is combined with wood, paper and other explosives, it may lead to severe fire breakouts.
Things to Remember
- Copper(II) Nitrate is a type of inorganic salt which is present in blue crystalline solid form.
- Copper nitrate is also basically available in five different hydrates forms. Copper II nitrate hemipentahydrate and Copper II nitrate tri-hydrate are the most popular one among them.
- Copper (II) nitrate can be prepared from metallic copper treated with nitric acid and also by treating metallic copper with dinitrogen tetroxide
- Copper (II) nitrate is used in the manufacture of medicines, in chemical analysis, or as an insecticide.
- The light sensitive papers are made with Copper ( II) nitrate compounds.
- This compound should be handled with utmost care as it can cause irritation to throat, lungs, eyes and skin.
Sample Questions
Ques: What are the physical properties of Copper [II] Nitrate? [5 marks]
Ans: The physical properties of Copper [II] Nitrate are:
- Copper (II) nitrate is available in blue colour and can retain moisture easily.
- It is crystalline solid in all its hydrated forms.
- The density of Copper (II) nitrate is 3.05 g mL-1 (anhydrous), 2.32 g mL-1 (trihydrate) or 2.07 g mL-1 (hexahydrate).
- The melting point of its anhydrous form is of 256°C and for tri-hydrate form it is 114.5 °C whereas 26.5 °C is for all its hexa-hydrates.
- Most of the anhydrous form of Copper (II) nitrate dissolves at high temperatures. They are also highly soluble in water, ethanol, and ammonia. However, these 3 forms of hydrates are insoluble in organic solvents like ethyl acetate.
Ques: What are the chemical properties of Copper [II] Nitrate? [2 marks]
Ans: There are various chemical reactions that undergoes in Copper (II) nitrate.
- One such reactions is the preparation of cupric oxide by the process of pyrolysis above 180 °C
2 Cu(NO3)2 → 2 CuO + 4 NO2 + O2
- Copper (II) nitrate can also react with acetic anhydride to help in the nitration process of aromatic compounds like benzene.
Ques: How is Copper(II) Nitrate is prepared? [2 marks]
Ans: Copper (II) nitrate can be made from metallic copper treated with nitric acid.
Cu + 4 HNO3 → Cu(NO3)2 + 2 H2O + 2 NO2
It can also be prepared by treating metallic copper with dinitrogen tetroxide:
Cu + 2 N2O4 → Cu(NO3)2 + 2 NO
Ques: What are the various uses of copper(II) Nitrate? [5 marks]
Ans: Different uses of Copper (II) Nitrate are:-
- It can be used to manufacture pyrotechnic, blue colours and coats.
- The redox reaction between the copper (II) nitrate and one copper electrode is also used as a popular depiction of the voltaic cell .
- Copper (II) nitrate is also used to generate copper (II) oxide
- The hydrate form of copper nitrates are also used in the manufacture of medicines, in chemical analysis, or as an insecticide.
- Light-sensitive papers are also made by using the components of Copper (II) Nitrate. However it generates toxic oxides of nitrogen is released when combusted.
Ques: What are the safety precautions to be taken care of while handling Cu(NO3)2? [2 marks]
Ans: The safety measures of Cu(NO3)2 are
- It is liable for causing irritation in the throat, lungs, eyes and skin.
- Being a non-combustible compound however,if it is combined with wood, paper and other explosives, it may lead to severe fire mishaps.
Ques: Write a balanced equation when a blue coloured powder of copper nitrate is heated in a boiling tube and mention the type of reaction in detail. [2 marks]
Ans: Chemical equation are symbolic depiction of the reactants and the product that are understood in simpler chemical formulae.
The balanced chemical equation is
2Cu(NO3)2 → 2CuO + 4NO2 + O2
The products formed in this type of reaction are copper oxides, oxygen gas and nitrogen dioxide which is also known as brown gas.
The type of reaction is a thermal decomposition reaction.
Ques: What is the type of reaction that undergoes below? [2 marks]
2Cu(NO3)2→2CuO + 4NO2 + O2
Ans: This a thermal Decomposition reaction where anhydrous copper(II) nitrate decomposes that releases copper oxide, nitrogen dioxide and Oxygen gas.
Ques: Write a balanced equation when Copper(II) Nitrate is reacted with Sodium Iodide. [2 marks]
Ans: Sodium iodide (NaI) reacts with copper(II) nitrate (Cu(NO3)2) which results in a redox reaction where Cu2+ oxidizes I- to I2 resulting in a yellow precipitate of copper(I) iodide and red iodine solution.
2Cu2+(aq) + 4I-(aq) → I2(aq) + 2CuI(s).
Ques: What do we get when Ammonia is added to Copper(II) Nitrate. [2 marks]
Ans: When ammonia (NH3) is added to copper(II) nitrate (Cu(NO3)2) we get a pale blue precipitate, which is Cu(OH)2(s). The dark blue colour is because of Cu(NH3)4 2+
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