Chemistry 2005 JAMB Past Questions - Question 50: To obtain pure carbon (II) oxide from its mixture with carbon (IV) oxide, the mixture should be

Correct Answer

D

Explanation

To obtain pure carbon(II) oxide (also known as carbon monoxide, CO) from its mixture with carbon(IV) oxide (carbon dioxide, CO2), you can use the following method:

Pass the mixture over heated copper(II) oxide (CuO).

The reaction involved is as follows:

\[ \text{CuO} + \text{CO} \rightarrow \text{Cu} + \text{CO}_2 \]

The copper(II) oxide reacts with carbon monoxide to form copper and carbon dioxide. This leaves you with pure carbon monoxide as the product.

Note that this method takes advantage of the different reactivities of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide with copper(II) oxide.