| Copper Hydroxide |
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It can be produced by adding a small amount of Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) to a dilute solution of Copper(II) Sulfate (CuSO4. 5H2O). Treat the experiment with great care; sodium hydroxide (lye) is very corrosive and should be used in a laboratory Fume Hood . Alternatively, copper hydroxide is readily made by Electrolysis Of Water with a copper anode. Scrap copper water piping is a good source of copper for this method. Use a low voltage DC supply (4.5 to 12V) capable of supplying 1A, hammer flat two short lengths of copper piping and connect them to the power supply, place the electrodes on opposite sides of a jar ensuring that they cannot touch and fill the jar with tap water. Switch on the power supply, bubbles should immediately start rising from the cathode, if not add a pinch of table salt to the water and stir. Turquoise copper hydroxide flakes should soon be visible in the water. The gas released by this electrolysis cell is hydrogen; it will readily disperse but if allowed to accumulate can form an explosive mixture. Copper hydroxide has been used, as an alternative to Bordeaux Mixture as a Fungicide and Nematacide - see {Link without Title} . Nowadays, copper hydroxide is disfavored because of environmental contamination problems. |
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