Chapter 19.8, Problem 4Q

The overall reaction for the production of Cu(OH)₂ from Cu in oxygenated water can be broken into three steps: an oxidation half-reaction, a reduction half-reaction, and a precipitation reaction.

1. a. Complete and balance the two missing half-reactions to give the overall equation for the oxidation of cooper in seawater.

Oxidation half-reaction: ?

Reduction half-reaction: ?

$\frac{{\text{Precipitation: Cu}}^{\text{2+}}(aq){\text{ + 2OH}}^{-}\text{(aq) }\to {\text{Cu(OH)}}_{\text{2}}(\text{s})}{\text{Overall: Cu(s})\text{ +}\frac{1}{2}{\text{ O}}_{\text{2}}\text{(g) }+{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O(}\mathcal{l}\text{)}\to {\text{Cu(OH)}}_{\text{2}}(\text{s})}$

1. b. Determine the equilibrium constant for the overall reaction at 25 °C using standard reduction potentials and the solubility product constant (K_sp) of Cu(OH)₂(s).