Hello all,
something strange happened (strange to me btw). I have a sample of copper chips contaminated by some organic compounds (like: rubber, cured phenolic resin, organic fibers). I intended to dissolve organic parts and left clean copper behind. So, I poured 30ml of Methyl-Ethyl Ketone (MEK) on 10g of the sample. After around 10h the result was not expected. The color of the solution turned to green. It seems the copper has been oxidized by MEK. What do you think? can MEK oxidize copper?!
Please consider the following picture.
If you say that the copper had previously been contaminated by organic materials, I would rather assume that mutual oxidation of Cu and these organics lead to some Cu2+ complexes which are now slowly being dissolved by the MEK.
Растворитель мог окислится до карбоновой кислоты. Кислота растворет медь в присутствии кислорода воздуха. Соли меди и органических кислотрастворимы в растворителе. Поэтому появилась окраска.
Repeat that experiment with clean copper in some known state as J.W. hinted.
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