Copper Ore

Rocks containing copper compounds (such as copper carbonate) are called ‘copper ore’. Copper is extracted from copper ore by a series of chemical, physical, and electrochemical processes. Ores can be classed as ‘high grade’ or ‘low grade’ depending on the percentage of copper compounds (e.g. copper carbonate) they contain.
After mining, the ore is crushed, roasted, smelted and then electrolysed to extract the copper.



 

Measuring the amount of Copper Carbonate in Copper Ore Samples

Copper carbonate reacts with acid to produce a salt, carbon dioxide and water.  The fizzing (release of carbon dioxide) indicates that a reaction is happening. It may be possible to estimate the amount of Copper Carbonate in ore samples by reacting them with acid and comparing how long they take to stop fizzing.

Suggested Equipment

Boiling tube

Samples of different carbonate ores, containing a range of percentages of copper carbonate that have been crushed to a powder.

Measuring cylinder

Stopwatch

Hydrochloric acid

Balance (for weighing)

Spatula

The longer the sample fizzes, the more copper carbonate it contains.