Position in P.

Group

Period
11 (| B)

4th
COPPER ( Cu) Symbol

Atomic no.
Cu

29

E.C- 18 2s²p 3s'3p3d10 4s'

Occurrence B
Copper constitutes only 0.0001% (approx) of
native as well as combined state earth's crust. In nature copper exists in
Native state
Copper is found in metallic (nativ) state in large
in Swedon and Ural quantities near lake superior in U.S.A,
mountains in Russia.
Combined State :
Inçombined state copper is present in the earth's crust in the form
.

and sulphides (minerals of Cu) ofjts Oxide carbanates

The imnportant ores of copper are

(0) Copper pyrite CuFeS?
(i) Cuprite (Ruby copper)
(ii) Copper glance
(iv) Malachite
Cu,S
CuOH); CuCO,
(v) Azurite SCu (OH%. 2CucOs
Extraction 0f Cu -
In actual practice Cuis extracted from its Sulphide ore, Copper pyrite (
CuFeS)
through the following steps
(1) Concentration :- Copper pyrite is powdered and then the conc" of ore is done by froth
floatation process.
(ii) Roasting :- The concentrated ore is roasted in a rever beratory furnace.
During roasting the following changes occur
(a) Moisture is expelled out.
(b) Sulphur, arsenic and antimony present in the ore are removed as their volatile
oxides as SO;, As;03,P,0s, Sb,03 .
S + Oz S0, ‘
4 AS + 502 ’ 2AS,0, T
4 P + 5 02 2 P,0, ‘
(c) Copper pyrite ore is converted to ferrous sulphide and Cuprous
sulphides.
2 CuFeS, + O2 ’ Cu,S + 2FeS + SO, ‘
(d) The sulphides of copper and iron are partially oxidised.
2Cu,S t 302 2 Cu,0 + 2S0,
2FeS + 30, 2 Fe0 + 2 SO,
(iü) Smelting :-The roasted ore is mixed with silica (Sio,) and coke and then heated in the
presence of air in blast furnace called Smelter.
Following reactions take place in the blast furnace :
Since iron is more reactive than copper so, FeS is preferentially
oxidised to Fe0 than Cu,S to Cu,0.
(a) Oxid" of FeS take place to form Fe0
2 FeS + 30, 2 FeO + 2SO, ‘
 Nowthis FeO reacts with Silica (Si0.) to form ferrous
Silicate (slag)
Fe0 + Si0, FeSiO, (ferrous silicate)
(Impurity) (flux)
(b) Cuprous oxide (Cu;0)which is formed as aresult of
(slag)
oxid" during roasting reacts witn
some FeS to form cuprous
sulphide (u,S)
FeS + Cu,0 Cu,S + Fe0
From the base of furnace,molten mass called mattle
is removed which is the mixture of Cu,S and Fes.
Bassemerisation:- Themolten matte is introduced inBessemer converter and acertain
amount of SiO, (Silica) is also introduced. Now a blast of air is blown into it.
Following reactions occur in bessemer converter
(a) Remaining FeS present in the matte is oxidised to FeO which combines with silica
(SiO,) to form slag
2 FeS +30, 2Fe0 +2S0,
Fe0 + Sio, FeSiQ:
(impurity) (flux) (slag)
(b) Copper sulphide (CuzS) is partially oxidised to form Cu,Q which further reacts with
remaining CuzS to form metallic copper (Cu)
2Cu,S + 30% + 2S0, ‘
|Autoreduction
J2 Cu,0 + CuS 6 Cu + SO, ‘
Now the molten copper is poured off and then allowed to cool.
During coolingthe dissolved SO,comes out
and lárge blisters are formed on thesurface of metal.
Hence the metal formed is named Blister
CONCcopper which contajns 98%Cuand 2% impurity
() Purification (Electrolytic refining)::
The crude copper so cbtained is purified by electrolytic refining.
Impure Cu, is made anode where as a thin strip of pure Cuis made cathode.
An aqueous solution of CuSO4 acidified with H,SO4(dil) is
used as electrolytic sol".

CATHODE
ANODE Crude
welo Debshel
Cu
lecta
Avadem
On passing electric current electrolysis starts.
Metal copper starts to move into sol" as Cu ion due to oxid"
Pure metal gets deposited at cathode due to reduction of Cu ion.
 ANODE (+):- Cu oxid", Cut* (ag) + 2e
CATHODE (-) :--(impure)
Cutt (aa) + 2e red" Cu (s)
" The more Pure
metal (99.6 -99.9 %)
electro +ve
like Si , Au, Ag etc. impurities dissolves in Sol where
settle down under Anode as as less
electro +ve impurity
Anode mud.
FLOWSHEET FOR THE
ORE (Copper pyrite (CuFeS,) EXTRACTION OF COPPER
CRUSHED &SIEVED
CRUSHING AND GRINDING
cONCENTRATION (Froth floatation)
· ROASTING ( In Reverberatory furnace in
CuFeS, t 0z
presence of air)
CuzS + 2 FeS + S0,
2Cu,S + 30 ’ 2Cu,0,+ 2S,
2FeS + 30, ’ 2 Fe0 +
PRELIMINARY TREATMENT
2S0,
SMELTING (In Blast furnace in presence of air)
2FèS + 302 + 2 Fe0 f2 SO,
Fe0 + SiO,
FeS + Cu,0
FeSio;
- Cus+Fe0
(slag) REDUCTION

MATTE (Cuzs +FeS)

BASEMERISATION (In Bessemer converter)

2 FeS t 3 0, + 2FeO, + 2 SO,
FeO +Si0, FeSiO; (slag) REDUCTION
[2 Cu,s t 30, 2 Cu,0 + 2SO,
Auto
2Cu,S + Cu,0 Red"
6 Cu + SO,
BLISTER COPPER (98% Cu + 2% impurities)
ANODE ’ Impure Cu
ELECTROLYTIC REFINING CATHODE Pure Cu
Electrolyte CuSO, (aq)
At ANODE (+) ’ Cu (s) Ooxid, cu*laq) +2e
Reac" (Impure)
At CATHODE (-) ºCu"laq) + 2 e Red",
Cu (s)
(pure)
PURE Cu(99-99.9 %)