Mechanism of the powder reaction between CuSO 4(s) and PbO (α and β): A thermoanalytical and mass spectrometric study

Thermoanalytical studies and isotopic analysis of oxygen have been used to establish the actual mechanism of the {CuSO₄}/{(α,β) PbO}{1}/{1} M exchange reaction (the reactants are fine powders). Whether SO ₃ is or is not involved in the reaction process depends on the crystalline form of PbO, and in the case of α-PbO on the type of heating. Oxygen isotope analysis, carried out on reaction products when PbO is enriched in ¹⁸O and when gaseous SO ₃ does not play any part in the process, shows that both cationic and oxygen transport are involved in the reaction mechanism.