Reduction of copper from oxides when heated in air

M. V. Pilyagin^a, L. R. Tagirov<sup>ab

a</sup> Institute of Applied Mathematical Research of Academy of Sciences of Republic of Tatarstan, Kazan, Russia
^b Zavoisky Physical Technical Institute, Kazan Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Kazan, Russia

Abstract: 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.

Received: 21.11.2022
Revised: 25.02.2023
Accepted: 26.02.2023

DOI: 10.21883/PJTF.2023.09.55316.19434

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