Paper 2 · November 2015 · Acids, Bases and Salts
A student added black copper(II) oxide powder to nitric acid, forming a blue solution P containing copper(II) ions. Which other substance is present in solution P?
ACopper(II) hydroxide
BCopper(II) nitrate
CCopper(II) oxide
DCopper(II) sulfate
Explanation
Copper(II) oxide reacts with nitric acid to form copper(II) nitrate and water: CuO + 2HNO3 -> Cu(NO3)2 + H2O. The blue solution therefore contains copper(II) nitrate (dissociated into copper(II) ions and nitrate ions).
Derived from ZIMSEC Chemistry 4024/2 Paper 2 Theory, November 2015, Q1