Copper(I) chloride facts for kids

Green impure copper(I) chloride

White pure copper(I) chloride in yellow solution

Copper(I) chloride, also known as cuprous chloride, is a special kind of chemical compound. Its chemical formula is CuCl. This means it's made of one copper atom and one chlorine atom. The copper in this compound has a specific electrical charge, called a +1 oxidation state. It also contains chloride ions, which are chlorine atoms with an extra electron.

What is Copper(I) Chloride Like?

When it's super pure, copper(I) chloride is a bright white powder. It doesn't mix well with water, so it won't dissolve if you try to stir it in. If you leave it out in the air, it can turn green. This happens because it slowly changes into a different copper compound called copper(II) chloride.

How it Reacts

Copper(I) chloride is quite reactive! It can mix with certain chemicals called Lewis bases. It dissolves easily in hydrochloric acid, which is a strong acid. It also dissolves in liquids that contain ammonia.

A cool thing about copper(I) chloride is that it can soak up carbon monoxide gas. This gas is dangerous, so this property can be useful. It can also change itself into pure copper metal and copper(II) chloride in a process called disproportionation.

If you mix copper(I) chloride with ammonia and another chemical called acetylene, they create something new. This new substance is called copper(I) acetylide. Be careful though, because copper(I) acetylide is a reddish chemical that can be explosive!

How is Copper(I) Chloride Made?

Scientists can make copper(I) chloride in a few ways. One common method is to start with copper(II) chloride and change it. This process is called reduction, which means adding electrons to it.

Long ago, it was first made by mixing copper metal with mercury(II) chloride. Another way to make it is by heating copper(II) chloride to a very high temperature. When it gets hot enough, some chlorine gas is released, and what's left behind is copper(I) chloride.

What is Copper(I) Chloride Used For?

Copper(I) chloride has some important uses. It's used to create a special chemical called a fungicide. Fungicides are like medicines for plants that help kill harmful fungi. Fungi can cause diseases in plants, so fungicides protect crops.

It's also a key ingredient in making many different types of organic compounds. Organic compounds are chemicals that contain carbon, and they are super important in everything from plastics to medicines.

Related Pages

• Copper(I) oxide
• Copper sulfate

Images for kids

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  A white precipitate of Copper(I) Chloride suspended in a solution of Ascorbic Acid in a 2 dram vial.

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  IR absorption spectrum of copper(I) chloride

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  Structure of COD complex of CuCl

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  (Example Sandmeyer reaction using CuCl)

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  (Addition of RMgX to C=C-C=O mediated by CuCl)

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  (Alkylation of sorbate ester at 4-position mediated by CuCl)

See also

In Spanish: Cloruro de cobre(I) para niños