ABSTRACT
How does this relate to green chemistry? Prevention and catalysis are two of the principles of green chemistry. Catalysts often incorporate a hazardous heavy metal in their structure. Reducing the percent of a hazardous heavy metal in a catalyst or other substance decreases the hazards associated with that particular heavy metal. This experiment uses a compound named copper gluconate. It has a much lower percentage of a heavy metal than the copper compound typically used. The chemical formula of gluconate is C12H22O14. Your task is to determine the chemical formula of the compound by isolating the copper and determining the molar ratio of copper and gluconate in the compound. Copper gluconate has a variety of uses and applications, including as an ingredient in the breath mint Certs® and as a source of copper in nutritional supplements.
