Effect of Copper on reactivity of Aluminum

Hi guys.
Another chemistry video!

I am not too sure why the copper(II) ion results in the rapid
destruction of the protective oxide coating on the Aluminum

What I do know is there is a redox reaction going on where the copper(II)
is oxidizing the Aluminium to Aluminium(III) whilst being reduced to red copper metal

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• redox
• copperchloride
• CuCl2
• aluminium
• Al

[piranha031091]

But... Won't aluminum react with hydrochloric acid anyway? You should have done this in two separate beakers to show if there really is a kinetic difference when copper is added. And this could be explained by the fact that copper II ions are a stronger oxidizer than H+ ions. The reaction you get is way more exothermic, and gets accelerated by it's own heat.

[mewrox99]

@piranha031091

Yes Aluminum does react with HCl. But it takes a while because the dissolving of the oxide layer is slow. When it does get going though the rate of reaction is probably on par to what you saw here.

This demonstration shows that the addition of copper results in the immediate destruction of aforementioned oxide layor

[hkparker]

Ah, what I was showing in my old dissolving aluminum reaction, but I used NaCl instead of HCl. The really fine copper produced it pretty cool huh? Have you seen woelen's write up on this?

[mewrox99]

@hkparker

yeah. Woelen's site is brilliant

[eseberre1]

We did this in chemistry like 2 days ago! lol

[MrAcidoBasico]

On the alluminium there is a a cover of Pure Copper? Isn't it?

[hkparker]

@mewrox99 No kidding!

[Kendrana]

What molarity did the HCl have more or less?