What is Cuprous oxide?

What is Cuprous oxide?
Cuprous oxide, whose chemical formula is Cu2O, is the oxide of monovalent copper. It is a bright red powdery solid, almost insoluble in water. It disproportionates to divalent copper and copper element in acidic solution, and gradually oxidizes to black in the humid air. Copper oxide. Cuprous oxide is mainly used in the manufacture of antifouling paint on the bottom of ships (used to kill low-level marine animals), insecticides, various copper salts, analytical reagents, red glass, and also used in the preparation of copper plating and copper alloy plating solutions.
The disproportionation of cuprous oxide into divalent copper in an acid solution indicates that the stability of divalent copper ions in the solution is greater than that of monovalent copper ions. For example, cuprous oxide reacts with sulfuric acid to produce copper sulfate and copper.
Cu2O + H2SO4 → CuSO4 + Cu + H2O
Cuprous oxide reacts with nitric acid to produce copper nitrate, nitric oxide, and water
3Cu2O + 14HNO3(lean)→ 6Cu(NO3)2 + 2NO↑ + 7H2O
Cuprous oxide reacts with ammonia water and hydrohalic acid and does not disproportionate to divalent copper and copper due to the formation of complexes
Dissolved in concentrated ammonia solution to form a colorless complex [Cu(NH3)2]+ (copper(I) ammonia ion), which is oxidized to blue [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+ in the air (Copper (II) Dihydrate Ammonia Ion)
Cuprous oxide can be dissolved in hydrochloric acid to form HCuCl₂ (complex of cuprous chloride), and it can also be dissolved in sulfuric acid and nitric acid to form copper sulfate and copper nitrate, respectively.
What is the use of cuprous oxide？
Cuprous oxide is used to make antifouling paint on the bottom of ships (to kill low-level marine animals). Used as a fungicide, ceramic and enamel coloring agent, red glass coloring agent, and also used in the manufacture of various copper salts, analytical reagents, and rectifier electroplating in the electrical industry, crop bactericide, and rectifier materials. Cuprous oxide is also commonly used as a catalyst for the synthesis of organic compounds.
Toxicological data of cuprous oxide
Cuprous oxide has acute toxicity. When its content in the air reaches 0.22～14mg/m3, and the contact person will work for 1～2 hours, it will cause acute poisoning. Clinical manifestations can be a headache, weakness, redness of the pharynx and conjunctiva, nausea, muscle pain, sometimes vomiting and diarrhea, fatigue, and elevated body temperature. The body temperature of the poisoned person can return to normal after one day, but still a weakness, headache, dizziness, increased pulse rate, and increased lymphocytes. For acute poisoning patients, use a certain concentration of K4[Fe(CN)6] solution for gastric lavage, take the milk, and other measures. The maximum allowable concentration of cuprous oxide in the air is 0.1mg/m³. In order to avoid cuprous oxide poisoning, you can wear masks, dust-proof glasses, protective work clothes, and a shower after work.
The chronic poisoning of cuprous oxide is manifested as the local skin, hair, and conjunctiva of workers exposed to copper compounds sometimes turn light yellow or black green, and there are dark red or magenta edges on the gums. It is irritating to the skin, and the dust irritates the eyes and causes corneal ulcers.
Cuprous oxide Supplier
TRUNNANO (aka. Luoyang Tongrun Nano Technology Co. Ltd.) is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12 years of experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and Nanomaterials. Currently, our company has successfully developed a series of materials. The Cuprous oxide produced by our company has high purity, fine particle size, and impurity content. For the latest price of Cuprous oxide, send us an email or click on the needed products to send an inquiry.
 
 

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