A Student Attempts to Dissolve a Small Amount of CuCO₃

question 52

Essay

A student attempts to dissolve a small amount of CuCO₃ in 0.0100 M NaOH. Despite vigorous stirring, the material does not apparently dissolve. However, after a while the student notices that the solid has changed appearance. When the pH of the solution is measured, it is found to have gone down. Explain these observations. Was the original goal of the experiment achieved?

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Definitions:

Piaget's Theory

A developmental theory by Jean Piaget that outlines how children's abilities to think and reason develop through four stages from infancy to adolescence.

Cognitive Development

The process of growth and change in intellectual/mental abilities such as thinking, reasoning, and understanding over the lifespan.

Underestimated

To judge something to be smaller or less important than it actually is.

Overregularization

A language development error where children apply standard grammatical rules incorrectly to irregular verbs or nouns.