Copper (I) oxide dissolves in concentrated ammonia solution to form a colorless complex [Cu(NH3)2]+, which is easily oxidized to blue [Cu(NH3)4(H2O)2]2+ in air. Dissolved in hydrochloric acid to give CuCl−
- Dilute sulfuric acid and nitric acid produce copper(II) sulfate and copper(II) nitrate, respectively. [5]
Cu2O degrades to copper(II) oxide in humid air.
Cuprous oxide is commonly used as an antifouling agent in pigments, fungicides and marine coatings. Rectifier diodes based on this material were in industrial use as early as 1924, long before silicon became the standard. Copper(I) oxide is also responsible for the pink color of the Benedict test.
In December 2021, Toshiba announced the development of transparent cuprous oxide (Cu2O) thin-film solar cells. The cell achieved an energy conversion efficiency of 8.4 percent, the highest efficiency reported for this type of cell as of 2021. The battery can be used in aerial platform station applications and electric vehicles.
An example of a natural copper(I,II) oxide is the mineral paramelaconite,
Cuprous oxide is any copper oxide in which the metal is in the +1 oxidation state. It contains copper (1+).
What is Copper(I) Oxide?
Cuprous oxide, also known as cuprous oxide, is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula Cu2O. It is covalent in nature. Copper(I) oxide crystallizes in a cubic structure. It is easily reduced by hydrogen when heated. It disproportionates in acidic solution to produce copper(II) ions and copper. When copper oxide is gently heated with metallic copper, it converts to cuprous oxide. Copper has good corrosion resistance because it reacts with oxygen in the air on the surface to form a thin protective oxide layer.
