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Ted Mooney, P.E. RET
Pine Beach, NJ

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Copper Oxidizing

I am doing a science project and I need to know what atom copper actually reacts with when it oxidizes. It also would be helpful if I could find out what other elements copper reacts with.

Can you help me find a good website?

Joseph Louis W.
Student - Jefferson City, Missouri
2005

Almost any chemistry book will be far more valuable for this than any website, Joseph! Copper can react with oxygen, sulfur, chlorine, and other atoms; it can also react with radicals like sulphate, cyanide, etc. While 'oxidize' can mean 'react with oxygen', and in common parlance it can mean 'tarnish', what it really means in chemistry is the oxidation state is raised. In this context, some reactions constitute oxidation of copper--like dissolving it in sulfuric acid--that are very far removed from tarnishing or reacting with oxygen.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

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