Copper hydride
chemical compound
Copper hydride is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula CuHn where n ≈ 0.95. It is a red solid, rarely isolated as a pure composition, that decomposes to the elements.
Structure
In copper hydride, elements adopt the Wurtzite crystal structure (polymeric), being connected by covalent bonds.
Production
Copper does not react with hydrogen even on heating, thus copper hydrides are made indirectly from copper(I) and copper(II) precursors.
CuH can be produced by many methods, although the detailed nature of the product varies somewhat. These differences are ascribed to particle size and surface structure, namely, bonded hydroxyls for the aqueous routes and a coordinated donor for the nonaqueous routes.Treating aqueous copper sulfate with sodium borohydride give a hydrated form CuH. The water can be exchanged by ethanol.
CuH is also produced by the reduction of copper(II) sulfate with sodium hypophosphite in the presence of sulfuric acid, or more simply with just hypophosphorous acid. Other reducing agents, including classical aluminium hydrides can be used.
4 Cu2+ + 6 H3PO2 + 6 H2O → 4 CuH + 6 H3PO3 + 8 H+
The reactions produce a red-colored precipitate of approximate composition CuH, which slowly decomposes to liberate hydrogen, even at 0 °C (32 °F).
2 CuH → 2 Cu + H2
The material is pyrophoric if dried.
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