CUPROUS OXIDE

PRODUCT IDENTIFICATION
CAS NO. 1317-39-1

CUPROUS OXIDE
EINECS NO. 215-270-7
FORMULA Cu2O
MOL WT. 143.09

H.S. CODE

  
TOXICITY Oral rat LD50: 470 mg/kg
SYNONYMS Yellow Cuprocide; Red Copper Oxide;
Dicopper monoxide; dicopper oxide; Brown copper oxide; C.I. 77402; Copper hemioxide; Copper (I) oxide; Copper nordox; Copper protoxide; Copper suboxide; cuprite; Cuprocide; Fungimar; Dikupferoxid (German); óxido de dicobre (Spanish); Oxyde de dicuivre (French);
DERIVATION  

CLASSIFICATION

 

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL PROPERTIES
PHYSICAL STATE Bright red powder
MELTING POINT 1232 C
BOILING POINT 1800 C
SPECIFIC GRAVITY 5.75 - 6
SOLUBILITY IN WATER Insoluble
pH  
VAPOR DENSITY 4.9

AUTOIGNITION

 

NFPA RATINGS

 Health: 2; Flammability: 0; Reactivity: 0

REFRACTIVE INDEX

 
FLASH POINT Not considered to be a fire hazard
STABILITY Stable under ordinary conditions. Moisture Sensitive.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION & APPLICATIONS
There are two forms of cuprous oxide. Cuprous oxide ( copper (I) oxide Cu2O) is found in nature as cuprite and formed on copper by heat. It is a red color crystal used as a pigment and fungicide. It is used as an antifouling agent for marine paints as an alternative of Tributyltin compounds. But it is not used on vessels with aluminium hulls. The copper is incompatible with aluminium. Cupric oxide ( copper (II) oxide CuO) is a black crystal. It is used in making fibers and ceramics, gas analyses and for Welding fluxes. The biological property of copper compounds takes important role in as fungicides in agriculture and biocides in antifouling paints for ships and wood preservations.
SALES SPECIFICATION

APPEARANCE

Bright red powder
CUPROUS OXIDE

95.0% min
CUPRIC OXIDE

3.0% max

TOTAL COPPER

86.0% min

Fe2O3

0.02% max

PARTICLE SIZE

325 mesh (99.5% min)

TRANSPORTATION
PACKING 25kgs in drum
HAZARD CLASS  
UN NO.  
OTHER INFORMATION
Hazard Symbols: XN, Risk Phrases: 22, Safety Phrases: 22
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF COPPER COMPOUNDS
Copper forms compounds in the oxidation states of +1 (cuprous) and +2 (cupric); trivalent copper survives no more than a few seconds in an aqueous solution. The relatively small change in electrochemical potential between the cuprous and cupric ions in solution gives the usefulness of copper compounds in chemical reactions. Copper compounds are used as catalysts in reactions, especially oxidation (cupric chloride) and heterogeneous reactions. Cupric chloride, copper chloride (CuCl2) is a yellowish to brown, deliquescent powder; soluble in water, alcohol, and ammonium chloride; while the dihydrated form of cupric chloride is a green crystals; soluble in water. It is used as a mordant in dyeing and printing textile fabrics and in the refining of copper, gold, and silver as well as a catalyst in chemical reactions. Cuprous chloride (CuCl or Cu2Cl2), also known as resin of copper, is a green, tetrahedral crystals; insoluble in water. The biological property of copper compounds takes important role in as fungicides in agriculture and biocides in antifouling paints for ships and wood preservations. Very low level of copper is toxic to fungi and algae but the levels for mammal is much higher. The copper ions inhibit the metabolism of the fungus when they react with sulfur containing enzymes in the plant. Copper compounds form a protective barrier on the plant surface and thereby prevent fungi from entering the plant host. The fungicidal effect of copper compounds as non-systemic fungicides are such as bordeaux mixture, cupric hydroxide, copper arsenate, copper carbonate, cuprous oxide,  copper-8-quinolinolate, copper oleate, copper sulfate, or copper oxychloride. Another important biological application of copper compounds, such as copper sulfide is as an antifouling agent in paints. The description and applications of copper compounds in industry are;
  • Copper Arsenate, Cu3(AsO4)2·4H2O or Cu5H2(AsO4)4·2H2O; bluish powder which is insoluble in water and alcohol, soluble in ammonium hydroxide and dilute acids; used as a fungicide and insecticide.
  • Copper Arsenite, also known as Scheele's green, CuHAsO3 ; toxic, green powder which is soluble in acids and decomposes at the melting point; used as a pigment and insecticide;
  • Copper Carbonate, artificial malachite. Cu2(OH)2CO3, toxic, green powder which is soluble in acids and decomposes at 200 C; used in pigments and pyrotechnics and as a fungicide and feed additive; antidote for phosphorous poisoning.
  • Copper Gluconate [CH2OH(CHOH)4COO]2Cu. light blue, crystalline powder which is soluble in water; used in medicine and as a dietary supplement; scale removal in metal cleanings and can be formulated in cleaning compounds including mouthwash due to its sequestering ability in alkaline conditions.
  • Copper Oleate Cu[OOC(CH2)7CHCH(CH2)7CH3]2 , green to blue liquid, used as a fungicide for fruits and vegetables; used in formulating antiseptics, deodorants, antiperspirants.
  • Copper-8-Quinolinolate C18H14N2O2Cu, khaki-colored solid which is insoluble in water; used as a fungicide in fruit and vegetables equipments.
  • Copper Sulfide CuS, black, monoclinic or hexagonal crystals which decomposes at 220 C; used antifouling agent in paints.
  • Cupric Acetate (Copper Acetate), known as crystals of Venus, Cu(C2H3O2)2·H2O, blue to green crystals which is soluble in water; used as a raw material to make paris green; organic reaction catalyst; textile dyeing; fungicide.
  • Cupric Bromide (Copper Bromide) CuBr2, black prismatic crystals; used in photography as an intensifier and in organic synthesis as a brominating agent.
  • Cupric Chloride (copper chloride) CuCl2, yellowish to brown, deliquescent powder which is soluble in water, alcohol, and ammonium chloride; used as a mordant in dyeing and printing textile fabrics and in the refining of copper, gold, and silver.
  • Cupric Chromate (Copper Chromate) CuCrO4, yellow liquid used as a mordant.
  • Cupric Cyanide (Copper Cyanide) Cu(CN)2, green powder which is insoluble in water; used in electroplating copper on iron.
  • Cupric Fluoride (Copper Fluoride) CuF2, white crystalline powder used in ceramics and in the preparation of brazing and soldering fluxes.
  • Cupric Hydroxide (Copper Hydroxide) Cu(OH)2, blue microscopic crystals; used as a mordant and pigment, in manufacture of many copper salts, and for staining paper.
  • Cupric Nitrate (Copper Nitrate) Cu(NO3)2·3H2O, green powder or blue crystals which is soluble in water; used in electroplating copper on iron; as a catalyst and nitrating agent in organic reactions; component in rocket fuel; fungicides and wood preservatives; textile dyeing and printing; pigment in ceramics;