Copper Content in Synthetic Copper Carbonate: A Statistical Comparison of Experimental and Expected Results

This paper describes a general chemistry experiment which was implemented in the 1995-96 academic year and which is based on the preparation of a basic copper(II) carbonate, Cu(OH)2(CO3), and its analysis for copper. Individual results of the copper determination were compiled and a class mean and standard deviation were computed and a frequency plot was constructed for the purpose of comparing class results to the expected result. From a student perspective, the expected result was not Cu(OH)2(CO3), rather it was CuCO3. Students were unaware that they prepared a basic salt, and assumed they prepared CuCO3. This assumption originates in the synthesis which has the appearance of a double displacement reaction. Students expected the copper determination to verify this assumption and were quite surprised when it did not. Statistics was used to reveal the discrepancy between experimental and expected results, and a t-test established that this discrepancy was significant--the prepared material cannot be formulated as CuCO3. The statistical conclusion was further substantiated by observational evidence in the synthesis and analysis steps.See Letter re: this article.