Re: Copper etching using HCl and H202

On Apr 27, 12:20 pm, OBones <obones_gfd_@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
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?

Etching Copper with HCl requires a source of Chlorine ... Some etches
use Chlorine directly .... others generate it in situ with Sodium
Chlorate ... or Peroxide as you are doing ...
It is hard to tell what green blue gas is ... but I feel from how you
describe things that it is due to copper oxychloride solution or
particulates being carry along with the gas ... You will have the
potential to release a lot more O2 than Cl2 ... and although Cl2 has
color ... its intensity is rather light ...
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Copper etching using HCl and H202
    ... I regularly etch copper plates using a mix of hydrochloric acid (23% ... hydrogen peroxide and some tap water. ... I don't know the exact nature of the gas that gets out and the various ... it's pure oxygen, some others say it's pure chlorine, some just say ...
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  • Re: Copper etching using HCl and H202
    ... I regularly etch copper plates using a mix of hydrochloric acid (23% ... hydrogen peroxide and some tap water. ... I don't know the exact nature of the gas that gets out and the various ... If you've got a high concentration of chloride, ...
    (sci.chem)
  • Copper etching using HCl and H202
    ... I regularly etch copper plates using a mix of hydrochloric acid, hydrogen peroxide and some tap water. ... 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. ...
    (sci.chem)
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