In: Chemistry
When sodium hydroxide, NaOH, solution is added to Part B of the copper cycle, precipitate does not immediately form. What else is present in the reaction mixture from the first part of the cycle that causes this? Is it nitric acid?
The hydroxide ions (OH–) from the NaOH(aq) neutralize the excess hydronium ions (H3O+) left over from the previous part. Once all the H3O+ (HNO3 + H2O --> H3O+ + NO3-) ions are neutralized, additional OH– ions react with the Cu2+ complex ion to form a gelatinous blue Cu(OH)2 precipitate. Precipitate does not immediately form until all the H3O+ ions are neutralized. This can be understand pictorially as shown below.
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