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ChemCatalyst
Jan 29, 2007, 03:39 PM
When you are combining Copper (II) Oxide with Sulfuric Acid, would you need to keep the '2' in Cu when working with Cu2O + H2SO4? I don't really know how else to word my question.

Capuchin
Jan 30, 2007, 12:37 AM
The (II) shows the valence state of the copper, By writing Cu2O you have shown the valence state as Oxygen has a fixed valence, so it is no longer necessary.

Is this what you were asking?

ChemCatalyst
Jan 30, 2007, 05:18 AM
Not exactly. I'm just trying to figure out how I would combine copper (II) oxide with sulfuric acid. The only thing I'm not sure of is whether I am supposed to keep the subscripts when combining them or not.

Capuchin
Jan 30, 2007, 05:23 AM
The subscripts show the amount of each atom in the molecule. In Cu2O there are 2 copper atoms and an oxygen atom.

I still don't quite understand what you mean by "keeping" it

ChemCatalyst
Jan 30, 2007, 05:38 AM
When I am trying to predict the products, would it be Cu2SO4 + H2O, or would it be CuSO4 + OH, or what? Does that make sense?

Capuchin
Jan 30, 2007, 05:41 AM
Yes sort of. You don't need to keep the number, no, as long as there are an equal amount of each atom on each side, to make it a balanced reaction.

You have to work out what the products are through chemical knowledge, then balance the equation to make the numbers right.

ChemCatalyst
Jan 30, 2007, 02:05 PM
Thanks for all your help.

Capuchin
Jan 30, 2007, 02:14 PM
*tips hat*