### Why You Might Choose to Extract Copper from Copper Oxide [tex]\( Cu_2O \)[/tex] Rather than Copper Sulfide [tex]\( Cu_2S \)[/tex]
When choosing between extracting copper from copper oxide [tex]\( Cu_2O \)[/tex] or copper sulfide [tex]\( Cu_2S \)[/tex], there are several considerations that might lead you to prefer [tex]\( Cu_2O \)[/tex]:
1. Less Harmful Byproducts: The extraction of copper from [tex]\( Cu_2S \)[/tex] produces sulfur dioxide [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex], a harmful gas that can contribute to air pollution and acid rain. In contrast, extracting copper from [tex]\( Cu_2O \)[/tex] produces fewer harmful byproducts.
2. Availability and Abundance: Copper oxide [tex]\( Cu_2O \)[/tex] might be more readily available or more abundant in nature compared to copper sulfide [tex]\( Cu_2S \)[/tex]. This can make the extraction process more feasible and cost-effective.
### How Using Sulfur Dioxide [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex] to Make Sulfuric Acid Will Affect the Atom Economy
Using the byproduct sulfur dioxide [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex] to produce sulfuric acid can improve the atom economy of the reaction. Atom economy is a measure of the efficiency of a reaction in terms of the mass of the desired product(s) relative to the total mass of the reactants. If the byproduct [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex] can be utilized to make sulfuric acid, it means that:
- The byproduct [tex]\( SO_2 \)[/tex] is not wasted, leading to better resource utilization.
- The overall efficiency of the reaction increases because a secondary valuable product (sulfuric acid) is obtained from the initial byproduct.
This utilization enhances the sustainability and economic viability of the process, thereby contributing positively to the atom economy.
