Copper in Concentrated Strong Acids
Demonstration Notes, Warnings, Safety Information
strong acid, burns, toxic gas, irritant gas
If any of the concentrated acids are spilled on the skin they should be washed off immediately with large quantities of water. These reactions should only be performed in a fume hood with adequate ventilation.
Concentrated nitric acid is a strong acid and a strongly oxidizing acid. It reacts violently with strong reducing agents such as alcohol or turpentine. Ingestion causes burning and corrosion of internal tissues. If spilled on the skin concentrated nitric acid should be washed off immediately with a large quantity of water.
Nitrogen dioxide forms acid on contact with moisture and is a poisonous, choking gas. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide may cause only slight pain or even pass unnoticed, but several days later may result in edema and cause death. 100 ppm is dangerous for even a short exposure and 200 ppm can cause death. This reaction should only be done with proper ventilation.
Sulfuric acid is a strong acid and a strong dehydrating agent and can burn the skin. Dissolving concentrated sulfuric acid in water is highly exothermic. Concentrated sulfuric acid should always be poured into water, not water into the acid.
Sulfur dioxide is generated in this process and so the demonstration should only be done when there is adequate ventilation. Sulfur dioxide is toxic and a strong irritant with a powerful, choking odor.
Hydrochloric acid can cause severe burns and permanent blindness. If ingested it burns mucous membranes and can cause circulatory collapse and death.
Hydrogen chloride gas is given off by hot concentrated hydrochloric acid. It causes inflammation and ulceration of the respiratory tract. Heating concentrated hydrochloric acid should only be done with good ventilation.
Concentrated phosphoric acid is irritating to skin and mucous membranes.
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These demonstration videos are not meant as tools to teach chemical demonstration techniques. They are meant as a tools for classroom use. Many of the demonstrations present safety hazards or are difficult for an entire class to observe as live demos. If you wish to perform the demonstrations shown here, you should obtain a copy of Shakhashiri's Chemical Demonstrations Vol. 1-4 (1), Gilbert, Alyea, Dutton and Dreisbach's Tested Demonstrations in Chemistry, Vol. I and II (2) and Ellis, Geselbracht, Johnson, Lisensky, and Robinson's Teaching General Chemistry: A Materials Science Companion (3).
Safety information can be obtained from (4).
Credits for the safety information throughout Chemistry Comes Alive!:
Frank W. Darrow, Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY 14850
Kelly Houston Jetzer, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
Gery J. Essenmacher, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
David Phillips, Wabash College, Crawfordsville, IN 47933
John W. Moore, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, WI 53706
Citations
1. Shakhashiri. B. Z. Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1983; Vol. 1.
Shakhashiri. B. Z., Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1985; Vol. 2.
Shakhashiri. B. Z., Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1989; Vol. 3.
Shakhashiri. B. Z., Chemical Demonstrations; University of Wisconsin press: Madison, 1992; Vol. 4.
2. Gilbert, G. L.; Alyea, H. N.; Dutton, F. B.; Dreisbach, D. Tested Demonstrations in Chemistry; Denison University and Journal of Chemical Education: Granville, OH, 1994.
3. Ellis, A. B.; Geselbracht, M. J.; Johnson, B. J.; Lisensky, G. C.; Robinson, W. R. Teaching General Chemistry: A Materials Science Companion, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, 1993.
4. University of Wisconsin System Administration OSLP EHS MSDS Database; http://www.uwsa.edu/oslp/ehs/msds98-1/ Try this link if you are connected to the web.