Question

Copper metal reacts with hot concentrated sulfuric acid solution to form aqueous copper(ii) sulfate, sulfur dioxide gas, and water. express your answer as a balanced chemical equation. identify all of the phases in your answer.

Answer 1

The unbalanced chemical equation with the corresponding phase for each substance is shown below: 

Cu₍s₎ + H₂SO₄₍aq₎ → CuSO₄₍aq₎ + SO₂₍g₎ + H₂O₍l₎

The copper metal is solid, the sulfuric acid and copper sulfate are in aqueous solution. Water is in the liquid phase while sulfur dioxide is in the gas phase. 

In order to obtain the balanced equation, we must ensure that the number of atoms present in the reactant side is equal to that in the product side. First, we list the elements involved and count their number on each side.

Reactant           Product
   1             Cu      1
   2              H       2
   1              S       2
   4              O       5

To balance the equation, we need to have 2 moles of H₂SO₄ and 2 moles of H₂O. The balanced chemical equation is then:

Cu₍s₎ + 2H₂SO₄₍aq₎ → CuSO₄₍aq₎ + SO₂₍g₎ + 2H₂O₍l₎

Reactant           Product
   1             Cu      1
   4              H       4
   2              S       2
   8              O       8