Question
A dilute solution of sulfuric acid is added to 15g of copper and iron mixture.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
When a dilute solution of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is added to a mixture of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe), the acid can react with the iron but not with the copper.
Here's how the reactions would typically occur:
1. **Reaction with Iron:**
Dilute sulfuric acid reacts with iron to produce iron sulfate (FeSO₄), hydrogen gas (H₂), and water (H₂O). The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:
\[
Fe + H₂SO₄ \rightarrow FeSO₄ + H₂
\]
The iron will be oxidized, and hydrogen gas will be released.
2. **No Reaction with Copper:**
Copper does not react with dilute sulfuric acid because it is less reactive than hydrogen. Therefore, any copper present in your mixture will remain unchanged.
### What to Expect:
- If you add the dilute sulfuric acid to the mixture, you will observe bubbles (which is hydrogen gas) coming from the reaction with iron.
- The copper will not participate in the reaction and will remain intact in the mixture.
### Practical Considerations:
- It's important to handle sulfuric acid with care, as it can cause burns and should be used in a well-ventilated area, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, etc.).
- Always add acid to water rather than water to acid to avoid exothermic reactions that may cause splattering.
### Stoichiometry:
If you need to calculate the amount of hydrogen produced, you would need to know the amount of iron present in the mixture. If the entire amount of iron in your sample reacts with sulfuric acid, use the molar mass of iron (approximately 55.85 g/mol) to determine how many moles of iron are present and subsequently how much hydrogen gas is generated.
Here's how the reactions would typically occur:
1. **Reaction with Iron:**
Dilute sulfuric acid reacts with iron to produce iron sulfate (FeSO₄), hydrogen gas (H₂), and water (H₂O). The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:
\[
Fe + H₂SO₄ \rightarrow FeSO₄ + H₂
\]
The iron will be oxidized, and hydrogen gas will be released.
2. **No Reaction with Copper:**
Copper does not react with dilute sulfuric acid because it is less reactive than hydrogen. Therefore, any copper present in your mixture will remain unchanged.
### What to Expect:
- If you add the dilute sulfuric acid to the mixture, you will observe bubbles (which is hydrogen gas) coming from the reaction with iron.
- The copper will not participate in the reaction and will remain intact in the mixture.
### Practical Considerations:
- It's important to handle sulfuric acid with care, as it can cause burns and should be used in a well-ventilated area, wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, etc.).
- Always add acid to water rather than water to acid to avoid exothermic reactions that may cause splattering.
### Stoichiometry:
If you need to calculate the amount of hydrogen produced, you would need to know the amount of iron present in the mixture. If the entire amount of iron in your sample reacts with sulfuric acid, use the molar mass of iron (approximately 55.85 g/mol) to determine how many moles of iron are present and subsequently how much hydrogen gas is generated.