Copper(II) stearate

Template:Chembox Copper(II) stearate is a metal-organic compound, a salt of copper and stearic acid with the formula Cu(C₁₇H₃₅COO)₂. The compound is classified as a metallic soap, i.e. a metal derivative of a fatty acid.

Synthesis

Exchange reaction of sodium stearate and copper sulfate:

$𝖢𝗎𝖲{𝖮}_{\mathrm{𝟦}}\mathsf{+}\mathrm{𝟤}{𝖢}_{\mathrm{𝟣}\mathrm{𝟩}}{𝖧}_{\mathrm{𝟥}\mathrm{𝟧}}{𝖮}_{\mathrm{𝟤}}𝖭𝖺\stackrel{}{\to }𝖢𝗎\mathsf{(}{𝖢}_{\mathrm{𝟣}\mathrm{𝟩}}{𝖧}_{\mathrm{𝟥}\mathrm{𝟧}}{𝖮}_{\mathrm{𝟤}}{\mathsf{)}}_{\mathrm{𝟤}}\mathsf{\downarrow }\mathsf{+}𝖭{𝖺}_{\mathrm{𝟤}}𝖲{𝖮}_{\mathrm{𝟦}}$

Physical properties

Copper(II) stearate forms a blue-green amorphous substance similar to plasticine both in appearance and touch.

Insoluble in water, ethanol, or ether; soluble in pyridine.

Chemical properties

The compound is stable and non-reactive under normal conditions.

When trying to ignite, copper stearate first melts and then begins to burn with a green (at the base) flame, then it quickly turns black due to the formation of cupric oxide:

$\mathsf{(}{𝖢}_{\mathrm{𝟣}\mathrm{𝟩}}{𝖧}_{\mathrm{𝟥}\mathrm{𝟧}}𝖢𝖮𝖮{\mathsf{)}}_{\mathrm{𝟤}}𝖢𝗎\mathsf{+}\mathrm{𝟧}\mathrm{𝟤}{𝖮}_{\mathrm{𝟤}}\stackrel{t}{\to }𝖢𝗎𝖮\mathsf{\downarrow }\mathsf{+}\mathrm{𝟥}\mathrm{𝟨}𝖢{𝖮}_{\mathrm{𝟤}}\mathsf{\uparrow }\mathsf{+}\mathrm{𝟥}\mathrm{𝟧}{𝖧}_{\mathrm{𝟤}}𝖮\mathsf{\uparrow }$

Uses

The compound is used in the production of antifouling paint and varnish materials.

Also used as a component in casting bronze sculptures.

Also applies as a catalyst for the decomposition of hydroperoxides.