Extracting metals with charcoal

In association with

A close-up, full-frame photograph of pieces of charcoal

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Try this class practical to illustrate the idea of competition reactions between metals and carbon. Includes kit list and safety instructions.

This extraction experiment consists of two competition reactions, with students heat first lead(II) oxide and then copper(II) oxide with charcoal. If the charcoal (carbon) is more reactive, it will remove the oxygen from the metal oxide and leave a trace of metal in the reaction vessel.

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