Sciencemadness Discussion Board
Not logged in [Login ]
Go To Bottom

Printable Version  
Author: Subject: Copper(II) oxide and carbon monoxide
Eddygp
National Hazard
****




Posts: 858
Registered: 31-3-2012
Location: University of York, UK
Member Is Offline

Mood: Organometallic

[*] posted on 31-3-2012 at 09:21
Copper(II) oxide and carbon monoxide


The reaction between CuO and CO forms copper and carbon dioxide. Would this make copper(II) oxide suitable for a carbon monoxide detector?

CuO + CO = Cu + CO2

Bearing in mind the different properties, e.g. conducting electricity, it could be possible to do it.
View user's profile View All Posts By User
stygian
Hazard to Others
***




Posts: 242
Registered: 19-9-2004
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 31-3-2012 at 09:26


The mono and divalent species are both semiconductors. Unless you're skilled enough in electronics to measure those slight differences,...
View user's profile View All Posts By User
Endimion17
International Hazard
*****




Posts: 1468
Registered: 17-7-2011
Location: shores of a solar sea
Member Is Offline

Mood: speeding through time at the rate of 1 second per second

[*] posted on 31-3-2012 at 10:50


Yes, if we lived on Venus. :) That reaction is very slow at room temperatures. Plus, it's a reaction with a solid phase that doesn't change its state. Any measurement of electrical properties would yield lots of engineering problems.
If you wanted to measure the change in conductivity, you'd have to use a fine powder od CuO through which the air would have to be passed in a constant rate. If you use loosely packed powder, the differences in the conductivity would occur upon stressing the container. If you use stuffed powder, passing air would be difficult if not impossible. If you use a solid piece of CuO (small monocrystal), electrodes touching it wouldn't allow the monoxide to react with it. Problems, problems, problems.




View user's profile Visit user's homepage View All Posts By User
AJKOER
Radically Dubious
*****




Posts: 3026
Registered: 7-5-2011
Member Is Offline

Mood: No Mood

[*] posted on 4-4-2012 at 21:43


I would also try Fe2O3 in place of CuO (Iron is a more reactive metal).

Passing air containing CO over heated Fe2O3 could liberate a small amount of Fe that may change electrical resistance (and perhaps magnetic properties) that may be measurable.

Heating Iron Oxalate yields a very fine Iron powder which you could use to form the Fe2O3.

Good luck.
View user's profile View All Posts By User

  Go To Top