2 AuCl3 (aq) + 3 Cu (s) → 2 Au (s) + 3 CuCl2 (aq)

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

3 Cu0 - 6 e- → 3 CuII (oxidation)

2 AuIII + 6 e- → 2 Au0 (reduction)

Cu is a reducing agent, AuCl3 is an oxidizing agent.

Reactants:

  • AuCl3 – Gold(III) trichloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Gold(III) chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Auric chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Gold trichloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Red crystals (anhydrous); golden, yellow crystals (monohydrate) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
  • Cu
    • Names: Copper source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, Copper (dusts and mists, as Cu) source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Cu source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Solid in various forms. turns green on exposure to moist air source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Reddish, lustrous, malleable, odorless solid. source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • Au
    • Names: Gold source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Au source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Element 79 source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07, Aurum source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
  • CuCl2
    • Names: Copper(II) chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Cupric chloride source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Copper chloride source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Appearance: Yellow-brown solid (anhydrous) | blue-green solid (dihydrate) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27