"Synthesis
of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles by using precipitation method"
Theory:
Copper oxide nanoparticles can be synthesized by the
precipitation method, where copper ions react with a precipitating agent (in
this case, sodium hydroxide) to form copper oxide nanoparticles.
Materials Required:
- Copper sulfate (CuSO4)
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
- Distilled water
- Volumetric flask (100 mL)
- pH paper
- Hot plate/stirrer
- Centrifuge
- Oven
Chemicals
Required:
- Copper sulfate (CuSO4)
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH)
- Distilled water
Chemical
Reaction:
Procedure:
- Weigh 1.596 g of copper sulfate (CuSO4) and transfer it into a 100 mL volumetric flask.
- Add a small amount of distilled water to dissolve the copper sulfate. Then, fill the flask up to the mark with distilled water.
- Place the volumetric flask on a hot plate/stirrer and stir the solution.
- Heat the solution to a temperature between 50 to 60°C, ensuring complete dissolution of copper sulfate.
- Add 100 mL of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution dropwise into the copper sulfate solution while stirring continuously.
- Check the pH of the solution using pH paper. Continue adding NaOH solution dropwise until the pH reaches 14, which indicates high alkalinity.
- Observe the color of the solution turning dark blue after the addition of NaOH. This color change indicates the formation of copper oxide nanoparticles.
- Maintain the stirring and temperature for two hours to allow for proper nanoparticle formation.
- Allow the solution to settle overnight, allowing the copper oxide nanoparticles to precipitate.
- Carefully discard the supernatant solution and perform centrifugation to separate the copper oxide nanoparticles.
- Dry the separated nanoparticles in an oven at 60°C for two days.
- Once dried, the copper oxide nanoparticles are ready for further characterization and use.
Calculations:
Mass of copper sulfate taken = 1.596 g
Volume of the volumetric flask = 100 mL
Molar mass of CuSO4 = (63.55 + 32.07 + (4
x 16.00)) = 159.61 g/mol
Moles of CuSO4 = (mass of CuSO4)
/ (molar mass of CuSO4)
Moles of CuSO4 = 1.596 g / 159.61 g/mol =
0.01 mol
Calculate the volume of water required to make a 0.1
M solution
Moles = Molarity x Volume (in liters)
0.01 mol = 0.1 M x Volume (in liters)
Volume (in liters) = 0.01 mol / 0.1 M = 0.1 L
Convert the volume to milliliters
Volume (in milliliters) = 0.1 L x 1000 mL/L = 100 mL
Therefore, to prepare a 0.1 M CuSO4
solution using 1.596 g of CuSO4, dissolve the given mass of CuSO4
in distilled water and dilute it to a final volume of 100 mL.