Copper etching using HCl and H202



Hi all,

I regularly etch copper plates using a mix of hydrochloric acid (23% concentration), hydrogen peroxide (35% concentration) and some tap water.
When the copper plate is dipped into the mix, gassing occurs and the mix gets a blue/green color which intensity depends on the quantities of the various components of the mix.
I don't know the exact nature of the gas that gets out and the various websites that describe this method do not agree on what it is. Some say it's pure oxygen (02), some others say it's pure chlorine, some just say it's "toxic gas".
I had some chemistry lessons back in high school but this seems out of my reach without further assistance. Here is what I got so far:

H202 + H+ + Cl- + H20 + Cu ---> Cu2+ + H20 + ???

Could you tell me which equation is right and which gas gets out of this?

Thanks in advance
Regards
Olivier
.



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