Introduction to the study of inorganic chemistry / by William Allen Miller.

  • Miller, William Allen, 1817-1870.
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Introduction to the study of inorganic chemistry / by William Allen Miller. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Nitric acid dissolves copper with violence, giving oft' red fumes of nitrous anhydride. Sulphuric acid in the cold does not attack the metal; hut if the strong acid be boileil ujjon it. the copper is dissolved, cupric suljjhate is formed, and sulphurous anhydride is set free. Copper melts at a Itright re<l heat, or 1090° C. It is e.xtensively used in the manufacture of boilers, kettles, saucejnms, and the like; also for the sheathing of shi|)s ; and it enters into the formation of many useful alloys, brass being a mixture of about 2 parts of copjier and 1 of zinc, and bell metal and bronze, which are alloys of co])|ier and tin. Some of the compounds of coi)])cr are used as ])igments. There are two oxides of co])per : the red, or cujireous, oxide (Cu;0). and the black, or cujiric, oxide (CuO). It is the latter which furnishes the important salts of the metal. The hydratetl red oxide is easily obtained by dissolving i jurt of cujiric sulphate and i of grape-sugar in water, adding a solution of ]iotash till the jirecipitate of hydrated cupric oxide is redissolved, and then boiling the solution. A crys- talline precipitate of cupreous oxide is de])osited. 'i'his oxide is used for colouring glass of a rubv red. Cupreous oxide is soluble in ammonia, and forms a colourless licjuid, which turns blue directly that it is ex])osed to the action of oxygen. F.xp. 248.—To a solution of cupric sul[)hatc add ammonia in excess; intrciduce the solution into a bottle with some copper turnings. Cork u[) the Itottle securely, and ))l;ice it in water; lieat it for some hours nearly to boiling. The blue solution will gnulually become colourless, and a poriion of the copper will be dissolved, the cupric becoming converted into cu|)reous oxide. When cold, pour ;i litile of the coloui- less lit|iiid upon a white ))late : it will idtsoib oxygni inst;mllv, and will become blue. Cupric oxide (Cut)) may be best obt;iined inire by dis- solving pure co]i])cr in nitric acid, evapor;iting the blue solution to drynes.s, ami decomposing the nitr.ite by he.iting