Question
Copper metal reacts with hot concentrated sulfuric acid solution to form aqueous copper (II) sulfate, sulfur dioxide gas and water. What type of reaction is this?
Answers
This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) equation/reaction.
Cu + H2SO4 ==> CuSO4 + SO2 + H2O (not balanced).
Cu is oxidized in going from zero to +2 oxidation state, S is reduced in going from +6 in SO4^2- to +4 in SO2. Note that one of the SO4^2- doesn't change.
Cu + H2SO4 ==> CuSO4 + SO2 + H2O (not balanced).
Cu is oxidized in going from zero to +2 oxidation state, S is reduced in going from +6 in SO4^2- to +4 in SO2. Note that one of the SO4^2- doesn't change.