Question

The student carries out a second experiment to investigate whether another substance,
copper (II) oxide, is a better catalyst than manganese (IV) oxide.
Describe how the second experiment is carried out. You should state clearly how you
would make sure that the catalyst is the only variable.

Answer 1

Answer:

The Cu/Cu2O nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Disper-sive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The analysis revealed the pattern of face-centered cubic (fcc) crystal structure of copper Cu metal and cubic cuprites structure for Cu2O. Copper/Copper oxide (Cu/Cu2O) nanoparticles were synthesized by modified chemical reduction method in an aqueous medium using hydrazine as reducing agent and copper sulfate pentahydrate as precursor.

Explanation:

The catalytic activity of Cu/Cu2O nanoparticles for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide was investigated and compared with manganese oxide MnO2. The results showed that the second-order equation provides the best correlation for the catalytic decomposition of H2O2 on Cu/Cu2O. The catalytic activity of hydrogen peroxide by Cu/Cu2O is less than the catalytic activity of MnO2 due to the presence of copper metal Cu with cuprous oxide Cu2O.