Letter 17067

Scientific reaction of hydrochloric acid and copper [Washington]  

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I'd like to explain, to a 6th grade class, what is going on when we rub hydrochloric acid over their copper rubbings. Thank you for your help.

Joan Russell
- Bellevue, WA

I don't know quite what a "copper rubbing" is or what happens to it. In theory, though, hydrochloric acid does not dissolve copper but it does dissolve copper oxides.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

Why does copper oxide dissolve in hydrochloric acid and how

John H.
student - Mt Vernon, Ohio, USA

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Answer or follow-up on this subject (in non-commercial fashion).

 

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