Question

Write true or false for the following statement:
Copper does not burn in air, but the hot metal is coated with a black coloured layer of copper(II) oxide.

Answer 1

Hint: Copper is a chemical element which is ductile and malleable and softer than zinc. It has many applications and is mainly used in electrical wirings and in motors and radiators. Copper does not burn itself but when exposed to oxygen and heated, a black coating of copper oxide is formed.

Complete answer:
Copper is a chemical element which is soft, ductile and malleable. It has a chemical symbol $Cu$ and atomic number twenty nine. It is a very good conductor of electricity and heat. It is non-corrosive and has low chemical reactivity and therefore, it is placed at a lower position in the reactivity series. It has a shine on the surface and is softer than zinc. It is a non magnetic and tough element which is easily combined to form alloys which makes it harder for various purposes. Copper is insoluble in water but is soluble in concentrated $HCl$. Copper is mainly used in wires and various electrical appliances as it is a good conductor of electricity. It is also used in telecommunication systems and in motors, brakes and radiators.
When copper metal is heated in the presence of oxygen, a black coating of copper oxide is formed that can further react with hydrogen gas to produce back copper metal and water. Copper does not burn itself but is divided into fine powder which may burn in air and lead to explosion which produces dangerous copper fumes. Thus, copper is heated to form copper oxide and is active when heated.
$2Cu + {O_2} \to 2CuO$

Therefore, the above given statement is true.

Note:
Copper, silver and gold are the elements of group eleven of the periodic table. They are inert and corrosion-resistant metals which have many applications in our day to day life. These metals of group eleven are known as the coinage metals because they were used as coins in early times and were a sign of wealth. Group eleven elements are known as transition metals and the reactivity decreases as we move from $Cu$ to $Au$.