Reduction of Copper Oxide by Hydrogen
Description: A piece of copper is heated in a flame until it is coated with black copper oxide. The flame is extinguished. While still hot, the copper is bathed in hydrogen gas, and the original coppery color returns. The reaction may be repeated as long as the copper object is very hot.
This demonstration is also available on video and JCE “Chemistry Comes Alive!” Vol. 1 CD-Rom.
Source: UW Card Catalog
Year: 1999 Vol. 76 Page: 1311
Keywords: Copper, Copper oxide, Hydrogen, Reduction
Rating: 
Hazard: Medium
- Flammable gases
- Explosion hazard
- Burn hazard
- Use of open flame
Effectiveness: Excellent
- Spectacular effects are seen by audience
- Good connection from demo to course material
- Time to results is medium
- Results are observable with guidance
Difficulty: High
- Careful and timed manipulations required
- Demos at non-standard conditions
- Large glassware in use
- Flammable pressurized glass in use
- Some intermediate steps to results
Safety Precautions:
- Eye protection required
- Thermal gloves required
- Perform on a heat resistant surface
- ABC fire extinguisher on hand
- Sparge oxygen from funnel before performance of equipment
Class: Redox, Redox Reactions, Groups IA, IIA, and IIIB (1,2, and 13)
Division: General, Inorganic Chemistry
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