Question

Copper can be found as a free metal, but most often it is found in a compound with sulfur, such as CuS (covellite) or Cu2S (chalcocite). 1. These ores often are heated with oxygen to change them to copper oxides. Sulfur dioxide gas also is formed. Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction for each of the copper sulfides.

Answer 1

The balanced chemical equations for heating copper sulfides such as covellite and chalcocite with oxygen to form copper oxides and sulfur dioxide gas.

Step-by-step explanation:

Copper sulfides, such as CuS (covellite) or Cu2S (chalcocite), are often heated with oxygen to change them to copper oxides. This reaction also forms sulfur dioxide gas. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction with covellite is:

2 CuS + 3 O2 → 2 CuO + 2 SO2

And for chalcocite:

2 Cu2S + 3 O2 → 2 Cu2O + 2 SO2

Answer 2

`CuS+(3)/(2)O_2-->SO_2+CuO`

`Cu_2S+(3)/(2) O_2-->SO_2+Cu_2O`

Step-by-step explanation:

Hello,

At first, for the covellite, CuS, the balanced chemical reaction turns out into:

`CuS+(3)/(2)O_2-->SO_2+CuO`

Secondly, for the chalcocite, Cu2S, the balanced chemical reaction turns out into:

`Cu_2S+(3)/(2) O_2-->SO_2+Cu_2O`

Such reactions are quite the same in terms of the stoichiometric coefficient of oxygen.

Best regards.