======Thermal Decomposition of Copper Carbonate======


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**Alternative titles:** Heating Copper Carbonate
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====Summary====                   
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====Procedure====  
  - Place a small amount of copper carbonate powder in a clean, dry test tube.  
  - Secure the test tube in a clamp stand and gently heat it with a Bunsen burner.  
  - Observe the color change from green to black as the copper carbonate decomposes to form copper oxide.  
  - To test for carbon dioxide, connect the test tube with delivery tubing to another test tube containing limewater.  
  - Continue heating and observe that the limewater turns cloudy, confirming the presence of carbon dioxide.



====Links==== 
Copper carbonate over a flame - Mr E's Science Episodes: 
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Thermal Decomposition of Copper(II) Carbonate - Curly Arrow Chemistry: 
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====Variations====
  * Repeat the experiment with other metal carbonates such as zinc carbonate or calcium carbonate to compare their ease of decomposition.



====Safety Precautions====
  * Wear safety goggles and a lab coat to protect from splashes or hot materials.  
  * Use tongs or a clamp to hold the test tube; do not touch it during or immediately after heating.  
  * Ensure good ventilation or work in a fume hood to avoid inhaling any gases.  
  * Allow the apparatus to cool before handling.
  * If bubbling into limewater, then remove tube from limewater before removing heat in order to prevent water being sucked into the hot test tube and forming steam.




====Questions to Consider====
  * What type of reaction is this? (It is a thermal decomposition reaction.)  
  * How can you tell that a chemical change has occurred? (A color change and gas production are observed.)  
  * What are the products of heating copper carbonate? (Copper oxide and carbon dioxide.)  
  * Why does limewater turn cloudy when carbon dioxide is passed through it? (Because calcium carbonate forms as a precipitate.)  
  * Do all metal carbonates decompose at the same temperature? (No, more reactive metals form more stable carbonates that decompose at higher temperatures.)