Question

Heating a mixture of $C{{u}_{2}}O$ and $C{{u}_{2}}S$ will give.
A. $CuO+CuS$
B. $Cu+S{{O}_{3}}$
C. $Cu+S{{O}_{2}}$
D. $Cu{{\left( OH \right)}_{2}}+CuS{{O}_{4}}$

Answer 1

Hint: Heating a mixture of $C{{u}_{2}}O$ and $C{{u}_{2}}S$,is a self-reduction process. In this process the less electropositive metals are heated in air to convert the ore into oxide or sulphate, which then reacts with the remaining sulphide ore to give the metal.

Complete step by step answer:
- When mixture of $C{{u}_{2}}O$( copper oxide )and $C{{u}_{2}}S$(copper sulphide ) is heated, then it will give the products copper metal and sulphur dioxide. This reaction takes place at a temperature of $1200-{{1300}^{\circ }}C$ . We can write the reaction as:
\[2C{{u}_{2}}O+C{{u}_{2}}S\to 6Cu+S{{O}_{2}}\]

- This process is a self-reduction process. In this we can see that (copper oxide) is having +1 oxidation state, which is self-reducing and gives copper having zero oxidation state.
- Hence, we can say that the correct option is (C), that is heating a mixture of $C{{u}_{2}}O$ and $C{{u}_{2}}S$ will give $Cu+S{{O}_{2}}$
So, the correct answer is “Option C”.

Additional Information:
-During the bessemerisation process, the ores of less electropositive metals like sulphide ores are heated in air to convert the part of the ore into sulphate or oxide. This is then reacted with the remaining part of the sulphide ore to give sulphur dioxide and metal.

Note: - This process is also called self-reduction or auto reduction.
- This is one of the methods which is used to reduce the sulphide ores of less reactive copper to copper metal.
- $C{{u}_{2}}S$ (copper sulphide ) is also called as copper glance, Chalcocite. And $C{{u}_{2}}O$ ( copper oxide ) is called a cuprite.