Secondary 3 – Chemistry Practicum: Making Salt (CuSO₄)
The practicum on producing copper (II) sulfate (CuSO₄) from copper (II) oxide (CuO) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) was an interesting and educational experiment for Secondary 3 students. Through this practical activity, Secondary 3 students learned how an acid reacts with a base to form a salt and water, which is known as a neutralisation reaction. The appearance of the bright blue copper (II) sulfate solution allowed students to clearly observe the progress and result of the reaction. This visual change made the experiment more engaging and helped students better understand the chemical concepts being studied.
During the experiment, Secondary 3 students carefully added copper (II) oxide powder into warm sulfuric acid while stirring the mixture continuously. Heating the acid helped increase the rate of reaction and allowed the copper (II) oxide to react more effectively. The mixture was stirred until no more solid copper (II) oxide could dissolve, ensuring that all the sulfuric acid had fully reacted. After that, the solution was filtered to separate the excess copper (II) oxide from the copper (II) sulfate solution. The clear blue filtrate obtained after filtration showed that copper (II) sulfate had been successfully produced.
Overall, this experiment helped Secondary 3 students develop a better understanding of chemical reactions, especially neutralisation reactions and the process of salt preparation. It also improved students’ practical skills, such as measuring chemicals accurately, using laboratory equipment correctly, and following safety procedures when handling acids and heated substances. By combining theoretical knowledge with hands-on experimentation, this made learning chemistry more meaningful and helped Secondary 3 students understand the topic more clearly and confidently.
