Cupric (II) Oxide (CuO)-Pellets

Characteristic

Copper(II) oxide or cupric oxide is the inorganic compound with the formula CuO. A black solid, it is one of the two stable oxides of copper, the other being Cu₂O or cuprous oxide. As a mineral, it is known as tenorite. It is a product of copper mining and the precursor to many other copper-containing products and chemical compounds.

Chemical formula:CuO

Molar mass:79.545 g/mol

Appearance:black to brown powder

Density:6.315 g/cm³

Melting point:1,326 °C (2,419 °F; 1,599 K)

Boiling point:2,000 °C (3,630 °F; 2,270 K)

Solubility in water:insoluble

Band gap:1.2 eV

Magnetic susceptibility (χ):+238.9·10⁻⁶ cm³/mol

Refractive index (nD):2.63

Crystal structure:monoclinic, mS8

Application

As a significant product of copper mining, copper(II) oxide is the starting point for the production of other copper salts. For example, many wood preservatives are produced from copper oxide.

Cupric oxide is used as a pigment in ceramics to produce blue, red, and green, and sometimes gray, pink, or black glazes.

It is also incorrectly used as a dietary supplement in animal feed. Due to low bioactivity, negligible copper is absorbed.

It is also used when welding with copper alloys.

A copper oxide electrode formed part of the early battery type known as the Edison–Lalande cell. Copper oxide was also used in a lithium battery type.