Solution Mining
SOLUTION MINING
A Laboratory Exercise in Extracting Copper from a Synthetic Copper Ore
Your Name __Mel Hine______________________
Partner’s Name __Jay Ranson____________________
Date _October 2, 2012____________
Introduction
This laboratory exercise involves the use of dilute sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to leach copper from a synthetic copper-containing ore, malachite. This technique is known in the mining industry as solution mining. The soluble copper is then filtered to remove unreacted ore (the residue) from the filtrate containing the copper+2 ion. The copper in the filtrate is then treated with metallic magnesium to precipitate the copper as the familiar orange-brown metal. This copper is dried and weighed. From these data the percent copper in the original ore can be determined. In this experiment you will use many of the concepts and techniques you have already learned in class including: molar mass calculations, separation by dissolution, oxidation-reduction, precipitation, equation writing and balancing, reaction types, percent composition, and percent error.
Background Information1
The first recorded human use of copper was about 10,000 years ago. A copper pendant discovered in Northern Iraq is thought to date back to around 8700 BCE. Prehistoric man probably used copper for weapon making. Ancient Egyptians appreciated the relatively good corrosion resistance of the metal. They used copper bands and nails in ship building, and copper pipes were used to transport water.
Years later, copper alloys appeared. The “Bronze Age” saw the extensive use of copper and bronze for arms, coins, household utensils, and furniture. (Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin). Brass, a copper-zinc alloy, was used by the Romans for coinage during the reign of Augustus 27
A Laboratory Exercise in Extracting Copper from a Synthetic Copper Ore
Your Name __Mel Hine______________________
Partner’s Name __Jay Ranson____________________
Date _October 2, 2012____________
Introduction
This laboratory exercise involves the use of dilute sulfuric acid (H2SO4) to leach copper from a synthetic copper-containing ore, malachite. This technique is known in the mining industry as solution mining. The soluble copper is then filtered to remove unreacted ore (the residue) from the filtrate containing the copper+2 ion. The copper in the filtrate is then treated with metallic magnesium to precipitate the copper as the familiar orange-brown metal. This copper is dried and weighed. From these data the percent copper in the original ore can be determined. In this experiment you will use many of the concepts and techniques you have already learned in class including: molar mass calculations, separation by dissolution, oxidation-reduction, precipitation, equation writing and balancing, reaction types, percent composition, and percent error.
Background Information1
The first recorded human use of copper was about 10,000 years ago. A copper pendant discovered in Northern Iraq is thought to date back to around 8700 BCE. Prehistoric man probably used copper for weapon making. Ancient Egyptians appreciated the relatively good corrosion resistance of the metal. They used copper bands and nails in ship building, and copper pipes were used to transport water.
Years later, copper alloys appeared. The “Bronze Age” saw the extensive use of copper and bronze for arms, coins, household utensils, and furniture. (Bronze is an alloy of copper and tin). Brass, a copper-zinc alloy, was used by the Romans for coinage during the reign of Augustus 27