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#Post#: 1112--------------------------------------------------
Which one is more stable? CuO or Cu2O?
DIR By: angel
Date: November 12, 2012, 5:29 am
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Which one is more stable? CuO or Cu2O?
Should I check the enthalpy of formation? Please help
Thanks~~
#Post#: 1113--------------------------------------------------
Re: Which one is more stable? CuO or Cu2O?
DIR By: Michel
Date: November 13, 2012, 7:44 am
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Talking about which is more stable, we refer to thermal
stability. in this case, Cu2O is the more stable of the two.
When strongly heated, CuO is decomposed to Cu2O and O2. This
shows that Cu2O is the more stable oxide of Copper.
Often, chemical reactivity may be confused with stability. For
instance, CuO is more stable to air at RT. Cu2O will be oxidized
to Cu(OH)2 in moist air, and will also be oxidized to CuO when
heated in air. This does not mean CuO is more stable, as Cu2O
simply reacts with the atmospheric oxygen to give CuO. If heated
in absence of air, Cu2O will not be converted to CuO.
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