Question

In an experiment, carbon monoxide was passed over red hot copper oxide. $C{O}_2$, so produced, weight $0.88g$ and the weight of copper oxide was reduced by $0.3232g$. Calculate the atomic weight of carbon.

Answer 1

$2CuO+CO\to C{u}_{2}O+C{O}_2$

$0.88g$

Let w is the atomic weight of carbon , then moles of $C{O}_2$ produced = $\frac{0.88}{w+32}$

$A/q,$ weight loss of $Cu$ - oxide = $0.3232g$

From the balanced chemical reaction ,

Moles of $CuO$ reacted = $2\times$ moles of $C{O}_2$

Moles of $C{u}_{2}O$ produced = moles of $C{O}_2$

$\therefore$ $Wt$ loss = moles of $CuO\times Mol.WtCuO$ - moles of $C{u}_{2}O$ produced $\times$ mole $Wt.C{u}_{2}O$

$0.3232$ = $\frac{2\times 0.88}{W+32}\times 79.5-\frac{0.88}{W+32}\times 143$

$0.3232W+10.3424$ = $139.92-125.84$

$0.3232W$ = $14.08-10.3424$ = $3.7376$

$W=\frac{3.7376}{0.32}$ = $11.8$ $\approx 12$