Copper is extracted from copper(I) sulfide by heating it in a stream of oxygen gas. The equation for the reaction is:
Cu2S+O2→2Cu+SO2 \text{Cu}_2\text{S} + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{Cu} + \text{SO}_2 Cu2S+O2→2Cu+SO2Calculate the percentage atom economy for obtaining copper from this reaction.
Use the equation:
Percentage atom economy=2×Ar of CuMr of Cu2S+Mr of O2×100 \text{Percentage atom economy} = \frac{2 \times A_{\text{r}}\text{ of Cu}}{M_{\text{r}}\text{ of Cu}_2\text{S} + M_{\text{r}}\text{ of O}_2} \times 100 Percentage atom economy=Mr of Cu2S+Mr of O22×Ar of Cu×100Relative atomic masses (ArA_{\text{r}}Ar): Cu=63.5\text{Cu} = 63.5Cu=63.5. Relative formula masses (MrM_{\text{r}}Mr): Cu2S=159\text{Cu}_2\text{S} = 159Cu2S=159, O2=32\text{O}_2 = 32O2=32.