Reduction of copper from oxides when heated in air
Pilyagin M. V.1, Tagirov L. R. 1,2
1Tatarstan Academy of Sciences, Institute of Applied Research, Kazan, Russia
2Zavoisky Physical-Technical Institute, FRC Kazan Scientific Center of RAS, Kazan, Russia
Email: pmv36@mail.ru, ltagirov@mail.ru

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The paper presents the results of experiments on the reduction of copper oxides formed during the heat treatment of metallic copper samples in air. The necessary condition is the presence of a muffle made of a material with a higher electron affinity (lower standard electrode potential) compared to copper. Replacing nitrogen in the composition of the atmosphere with an equal proportion of argon does not change the observed redox pattern. Our results indicate an electrochemical mechanism for the reduction of copper oxides in a steel muffle, in which oxygen plays the role of a charge carrier. Keywords: oxidation of metallic copper, reduction of copper oxides, steel muffle, air, oxygen, electrochemistry.
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