What are the products when copper(II) oxide reacts with sulfuric acid?

What are the products when copper(II) oxide reacts with sulfuric acid?

• A. Copper(II) Sulfide and Water
• B. Copper(II) Sulfate and Water
• C. Copper metal and Sulfuric acid
• D. Copper(II) Sulfate and Hydrogen

Answer: (B)

When a metal oxide reacts with an acid, the oxide behaves as a base and neutralizes the acid to form a salt and water. Here, copper(II) oxide combines with sulfuric acid, giving copper(II) sulfate and water. The reaction is CuO + H2SO4 → CuSO4 + H2O, so the products are copper(II) sulfate and water. This fits because the copper stays in the +2 oxidation state in the salt, and the acid’s hydrogen ions pair with the oxide’s oxide to make water. Other possibilities would require sulfide formation or copper metal, which don’t occur in this reaction since there’s no sulfide source and copper doesn’t displace hydrogen from sulfuric acid under these conditions.

When a metal oxide reacts with an acid, the oxide behaves as a base and neutralizes the acid to form a salt and water. Here, copper(II) oxide combines with sulfuric acid, giving copper(II) sulfate and water. The reaction is CuO + H2SO4 → CuSO4 + H2O, so the products are copper(II) sulfate and water.

This fits because the copper stays in the +2 oxidation state in the salt, and the acid’s hydrogen ions pair with the oxide’s oxide to make water. Other possibilities would require sulfide formation or copper metal, which don’t occur in this reaction since there’s no sulfide source and copper doesn’t displace hydrogen from sulfuric acid under these conditions.