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COPPER
Natural Abundance, Stable Isobars Cu63 , 69.1%, None Cu65, 30.9% Cupric chloride, cuprous chloride, and cuprous iodide have been used as charge material in the separation of the isotopes of copper. Best operating characteristics were obtained with Cu2Cl2, and it is the preferred charge compound. A charge of 500 g of Cu2Cl2 in a style X-5 stainless steel charge bottle is generally used in the calutron. Cuprous chloride is usually obtained from commercial sources as the anhydrous powder, but it has also been prepared in the laboratory by dissolving copper metal in hot hydrochloric acid. After the reaction is complete, the solution is decanted from the remaining metal and evaporated to dryness, yielding Cu2Cl2. The salt from either source is fused in a nickel reactor by induction heating before being used in the calutron. Fusion is beneficial in that it provides a dense material free from water and other volatile materials which would prolong pumpdown time in the calutron. Cuprous iodide is prepared in the laboratory by reacting pellets of copper metal with boiling 47% hydriodic acid. Small portions of elemental iodine are added periodically to the solution, each addition resulting in considerable reaction and darkening of the solution. The solution clears very rapidly at first, but more slowly as the acid becomes saturated with cuprous iodide. The reaction is considered complete when the iodine color persists but disappears upon the addition of a few ml of fresh hydriodic acid. The solution is allowed to boil for an additional 30 min and the supernatant liquid is poured off the copper metal into an excess of cold water. Cuprous iodide settles out of the solution as a fine white powder. (Solubility is 0.0008 g per 100 ml H20.) The supernatant is decanted and the precipitate transferred to a fine sintered-glass funnel with a stream of cold water. The salt is allowed to dry, first on the funnel and then in an electric drying oven, and is finally fused in a nickel tube by induction heating. Copper compounds are not considered toxic; however, the intelligent use of protective clothing, goggles, soap, and water is recommended. |
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