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.
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.
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