Chapter 18, Problem 100AP

Comment on the feasibility of extracting copper from its ore chalcocite $\left({\text{Cu}}_{\text{2}}\text{S}\right)$ by heating:

${\text{Cu}}_{\text{2}}\text{S}\left(s\right)\underset{}{\to }\text{ 2Cu}\left(s\right)\text{ + S}\left(s\right)$

Calculate the $\Delta G°$ for the overall reaction if this process is coupled to the conversion of sulfur to sulfur dioxide and $\Delta G_{\text{f}}^{\text{o}}\left({\text{Cu}}_{\text{2}}\text{S}\right)=-86.1\text{ kJ/mol}.$