Hi all I just tried electrolysis of Na2CO3 using copper katode and anode.
The substance changed color to blue... Did I create CuCO3? AsocialSurvival - 6-11-2014 at 08:22
Theoretically probably not because Sodium would rather be Carbonate, and Copper would be Hydroxide. But practically yes, because your Copper Hydroxide
will absorb CO2 from air to become Copper Carbonate. So, yes!elementcollector1 - 6-11-2014 at 08:22
The rate of absorption would be laughably slow, so practically, no.AsocialSurvival - 6-11-2014 at 08:29
The rate of absorption would be laughably slow, so practically, no.
Don't listen to elementcollector1, that is only correct for Copper metal, but since this is in powdered form and so has an increased surface area, the
rate of absorption will be fast (when you remove that powder from water and let it dry on air), so practically YES.elementcollector1 - 6-11-2014 at 09:11
When you expose copper hydroxide to air, it rapidly turns to copper oxide, which wouldn't react further - it's thermodynamically quite stable.
Therefore, it'd need to be kept underwater - and because the rate of dissolution of CO2 in water is also slow, this would take years to get any
significant product.
A much better way to isolate basic copper carbonate is to mix copper sulfate and sodium carbonate solutions, where the reaction is driven to the right
by the insolubility of copper carbonate compared to sodium carbonate or copper sulfate. No more having to worry about gas absorption rates, as the
whole reaction finishes in a few seconds of stirring.
