IUPAC Name
Copper(II) oxide
Cas Number
1317-38-0
HS Code
28255000
Formula
CuO
Industry
-
Appearance
Black solid, powdered solid
Common Names
Cupric oxide
Packaging
25 Kg Jerrycan
Brief Overview
Copper(II) oxide (also known as cupric oxide) is the inorganic compound with the formula CuO. A black solid, it is one of the two stable oxides of copper, the other being Cu2O. As a mineral, it is known as tenorite. It is a product of copper mining and the precursor to many other copper-containing products and chemical compounds.
Manufacturing Process
Most commonly the copper oxide is produced by the process of pyrometallurgy, as one stage in extracting copper from its ores (copper mining). These ores are then treated with a watered down mixture of ammonium carbonate, ammonia, and oxygen to give copper(I) and copper(II) ammine complexes, which can be extracted from solid. These complexes are decomposed with steam to give CuO.
Chemical industry
Copper oxide is often the starting point of production of many copper salts and other chemicals that consist of copper.
Ceramics and woodworking
In woodworking, copper oxide is used as a wood preservative. In ceramics, it can be found as a pigment in different coloured glazes.
Pyrotechnics
Because of its color while being burned, copper oxide is used as a coloring agent in glue flame compositions. For the crackling effect, it is present in strobe effects and compositions to give off an impression of the blinking stars.