Question

When hydrogen gas is passed over black copper oxide, a reddish-coloured layer of copper is formed.

Answer the questions that follow based on this reaction.

1. Write the equation.
2. What type of reaction is it?
3. Complete the blanks:
   In this reaction, an oxygen atom goes away from CuO (copper oxide), which means that ______ of copper oxide takes place, whereas a hydrogen molecule takes up an oxygen atom and water (H₂O) is formed, meaning ______ of hydrogen takes place.

Answer 1

1. \[\ce{CuO + H2 -> Cu + H2O}\]
2. Redox reaction
3. In this reaction, an oxygen atom goes away from CuO (copper oxide), which means that reduction of copper oxide takes place, whereas hydrogen molecule takes up oxygen atom and water (H₂O) is formed meaning oxidation of hydrogen takes place.