Alchemists used to obsess over chrysopoeia, the transmutation of regular metals, such as copper, into gold. However, they were not aware at the time that copper and gold were two different atomic elements and instead believed them to be compounds. Thinking these metals could be changed chemically or physically in labs, alchemists pursued this dream to no advantage. Although it is not possible to change ordinary metals to gold through chemical reactions, physical reactions, radioactive decay, or nuclear fission, it is possible to change them through nuclear fusion.
Common metal such as copper cannot go through physical reactions to turn into gold because the substance would only change phase. A physical reaction is the rearrangement of molecules …show more content…
A chemical reaction is a process that chemically alters the molecular structure of a substance; a process that creates a new compound or chemical formula. An experiment was conducted to identify whether copper can be chemically changed and then returned to its original state. The experiment’s procedure and results are as follows: when HNO3 is added to 0.2 grams of Cu the result is Cu (NO3)2(aq), NO2 (g), and H2O (l). The copper is present in the Copper (II) Nitrate, which is a clear blue liquid. Then, NaOH (aq) is added to Cu (NO3)2(aq) resulting in Cu (OH) 2(s) and NaNO3(s). The copper is present in the Copper Hydroxide which are dark turquoise crystals. Next, the Copper Hydroxide is heated resulting in CuO(s) and H2O (l). The copper is now in the Copper Oxide, which are black sediments. The H2O (l) is distilled from CuO(s) and H2SO4 (aq) is added. This results in CuSO4 and H2O (l). The copper is located in the Copper (II) Sulfate. Lastly, Zn(s) is added to CuSO4 (aq) which results in ZnSO4 and Cu(s). The 0.2 grams of Copper are now alone in its original form after being filtered from the mixture. It is evident that copper was conserved throughout the steps of the experiment due to the Law of Conservation of Matter. The Law of Conservation of Matter states that the mass and elements in a closed system will stay the same. This principle can be proved with this experiment because copper was able to chemically combine with other elements and substances and still return back into its original form. The copper was not able to change into another element nor was its mass changed. Therefore, if a chemical change were to take place with any common metals, it would not be turned into
Common metal such as copper cannot go through physical reactions to turn into gold because the substance would only change phase. A physical reaction is the rearrangement of molecules …show more content…
A chemical reaction is a process that chemically alters the molecular structure of a substance; a process that creates a new compound or chemical formula. An experiment was conducted to identify whether copper can be chemically changed and then returned to its original state. The experiment’s procedure and results are as follows: when HNO3 is added to 0.2 grams of Cu the result is Cu (NO3)2(aq), NO2 (g), and H2O (l). The copper is present in the Copper (II) Nitrate, which is a clear blue liquid. Then, NaOH (aq) is added to Cu (NO3)2(aq) resulting in Cu (OH) 2(s) and NaNO3(s). The copper is present in the Copper Hydroxide which are dark turquoise crystals. Next, the Copper Hydroxide is heated resulting in CuO(s) and H2O (l). The copper is now in the Copper Oxide, which are black sediments. The H2O (l) is distilled from CuO(s) and H2SO4 (aq) is added. This results in CuSO4 and H2O (l). The copper is located in the Copper (II) Sulfate. Lastly, Zn(s) is added to CuSO4 (aq) which results in ZnSO4 and Cu(s). The 0.2 grams of Copper are now alone in its original form after being filtered from the mixture. It is evident that copper was conserved throughout the steps of the experiment due to the Law of Conservation of Matter. The Law of Conservation of Matter states that the mass and elements in a closed system will stay the same. This principle can be proved with this experiment because copper was able to chemically combine with other elements and substances and still return back into its original form. The copper was not able to change into another element nor was its mass changed. Therefore, if a chemical change were to take place with any common metals, it would not be turned into