Question

What will happen if copper oxide is heated in the absence of any reducing agent?

Answer 1

Dear student

Some elements and compounds can be both reducing or oxidizing agents. Hydrogen gas is a reducing agent when it reacts with non-metals and an oxidizing agent when it reacts with metals.

Copper Oxide when heated in atmosphere of Hydrogen it reduces in elemental copper with release of water vapours.The chemical reaction for this process is:

CuO + H₂ → Cu + H₂O

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