freechemist
In Remembrance
Ericrm
The sulfate remains dissolved in the flux, the slag respectively, while Cu(II) is reduced by any metal, less precious than copper, present in the smelt-mix, to Cu(0), metallic copper. The reducing metal itself is oxidized and dissolved in the flux (slag), as a cation.
The same redox reaction occurs in water, too, if you treat an aqueous solution of copper sulfate with e.g. metallic zinc, the sulfate-anion remaining in solution, virtually unaffected.
Smack
Lou was talking about working with the melt and with chemicals. He suggested, to add copper sulfate - a chemical - to the melt.
The sulfate remains dissolved in the flux, the slag respectively, while Cu(II) is reduced by any metal, less precious than copper, present in the smelt-mix, to Cu(0), metallic copper. The reducing metal itself is oxidized and dissolved in the flux (slag), as a cation.
The same redox reaction occurs in water, too, if you treat an aqueous solution of copper sulfate with e.g. metallic zinc, the sulfate-anion remaining in solution, virtually unaffected.
Smack
Lou was talking about working with the melt and with chemicals. He suggested, to add copper sulfate - a chemical - to the melt.
