COPPER(I) SULFIDE Property

Melting point:

1100°C

Density 

5.6 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.)

storage temp. 

Keep in dark place,Inert atmosphere,Room temperature

solubility 

insoluble in H2O; slightly soluble in acid solutions

form 

powder

color 

Black

Specific Gravity

5.6

Water Solubility 

Slightly soluble in hydrochloric acid, ammonium hydroxide. Insoluble in water.

Merck 

14,2667

crystal system

Monoclinic

Space group

P21/c

Solubility Product Constant (Ksp)

pKsp: 47.6

Lattice constant

a/nm	b/nm	c/nm	α/o	β/o	γ/o	V/nm3
1.5246	1.1884	1.3494	90	116.35	90	2.1909

Exposure limits

ACGIH: TWA 1 mg/m3
NIOSH: IDLH 100 mg/m3; TWA 1 mg/m3

Surface tension

72.2mN/m at 18mg/L and 20℃

CAS DataBase Reference

22205-45-4(CAS DataBase Reference)

EPA Substance Registry System

Cuprous sulfide (22205-45-4)

Safety

Risk Statements 

20/21/22-40

Safety Statements 

7-22-36/37/39

WGK Germany 

3

RTECS 

GL8910000

TSCA 

Yes

HS Code 

2830908500

Hazard and Precautionary Statements (GHS)

COPPER(I) SULFIDE Chemical Properties,Usage,Production

Chemical Properties

Copper(I) sulfide, Cu2S, [22205-45-4], MW 159.15, is naturally occurring as the blue or gray mineral chalcocite, [21112-20-9]. Copper(I) sulfide or copper glance is insoluble in water but decomposes in nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid.

Copper(I) sulfide is prepared by heating mixtures of copper and sulfur in a hydrogen atmosphere or by precipitation of a copper(II) ammine salt solution with hydrogen sulfide or alkali sulfides. It is used in lubricants, solar cells, semiconductors, and luminous paints.

Physical Properties

Dark-blue or black orthogonal crystals; insoluble in water; slightly soluble in hydrochloric acid; decomposed by nitric acid and concentrated sulfuric acid; moderately soluble in ammonium hydroxide; dissolves in potassium cyanide solutions.

Uses

Copper(I) sulfide is used in luminous paints; antifouling paints; in solidlubricant mixtures; in solar cells; in electrodes; and as a catalyst.
The compound occurs in nature as the mineral chalcocite (copper glance) with varying colors.

Preparation

Copper(I) sulfide is available in nature as the mineral chalcocite. It also may be made by heating copper(II) sulfide with hydrogen, in the presence of small amounts of sulfur.
Alternatively, copper(I) sulfide may be prepared by heating copper with hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen; or by heating the metal with sulfur in an atmosphere of carbon dioxide and methanol vapor.

Reactions

When heated in air, copper(I) sulfide oxidizes forming copper(II) oxide, and sulfur dioxide:
Cu2S + 2O2→ 2CuO + SO2
Heating in the absence of air produces copper(II) sulfide and copper:
Cu2S→ CuS + Cu
When heated with nitric acid, copper(I) sulfide decomposes forming copper nitrate and hydrogen sulfide. The compound dissolves in aqueous solutions containing cyanide ions forming soluble copper-cyanide complexes.
Copper(I) sulfide reacts with polysulfide anions in aqueous solutions forming soluble copper polysulfides.

Chemical Properties

Black powder or lumps.Soluble in nitric acid and ammonium hydroxide; insoluble in water. Occurs as the mineral chalcocite.

Uses

Antifouling paints, solar cells, electrodes, solid lubricants, luminous paints, catalyst.

Uses

Copper(I) sulfide is used in luminous paints, electrodes and in solar cells. It is also used for grain mounts, XRD and in microprobe standards for the identification of unknown minerals. It acts as a precursor for the preparation of copper(I) oxide and copper metal. Further, it acts as a catalyst.

Definition

ChEBI: A copper sulfide in which the metal is in the +1 oxidation state.

Definition

Copper glance: A mineral form ofcopper(I) sulphide,Cu₂S.

General Description

Copper sulfide shows metal-like electrical conductivity, chemical-sensing capability and suitable characteristics for absorption of solar energy. Cu63 NMR, X ray photoelectron spectroscopy,2 copper sulfide CuS was studied in detail. Copper sulfide is a monovalent and oxidation state was determined to be 2.2