5 Cu + 4 H2SO4 3 Cu(SO4) + Cu2S + 4 H2O

This is an oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction:

3 Cu0 - 6 e- 3 CuII (oxidation)

2 Cu0 - 2 e- 2 CuI (oxidation)

SVI + 8 e- S-II (reduction)

Cu is a reducing agent, Cu is a reducing agent, H2SO4 is an oxidizing agent.

Reactants:

  • 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
  • H2SO4Sulfuric acid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02
    • Other names: Oil of vitriol source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02, Sulfuric acid, concentrated (> 51% and < 100%) source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04, H2SO4 source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-07
    • Appearance: Clear, colorless liquid source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27; Odourless colourless oily hygroscopic liquid source: ICSC, accessed: 2019-09-04; Colorless to dark-brown, oily, odorless liquid. [Note: Pure compound is a solid below 51°F. Often used in an aqueous solution.] source: NIOSH NPG, accessed: 2019-09-02

Products:

  • Cu(SO4)
  • Cu2SCopper(I) Sulphide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Copper(I) sulfide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Cuprous sulfide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27source: wikidata, accessed: 2019-09-02, Chalcocite source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
  • H2OWater, oxidane source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Other names: Water (H2O) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen hydroxide (HH or HOH) source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27, Hydrogen oxide source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27
    • Appearance: White crystalline solid, almost colorless liquid with a hint of blue, colorless gas source: wikipedia, accessed: 2019-09-27