The compound copper sulfide is used to kill fungi and algae in rivers and ponds.The others are gold (yellow), cesium (yellow), and osmium (blue). It is one of the few metals that is not gray or silver in color.Silver is the only element with a higher electrical conductivity than copper.This is where the symbol Cu also comes from.Ĭopper has two stable isotopes that make up naturally occurring copper: copper-63 and copper-65. Cyprus is an island in the Mediterranean Sea where the Romans mined much of their copper. The name comes from the word "Cuprum", which is the Latin name for the island of Cyprus. The Copper Age lasted up until the Bronze Age about 3600 BC when people learned that by mixing tin with copper they could make the harder metal bronze. People first began to smelt copper from ore around 5,000 BC. This is because the copper was worth more than the penny.Ĭopper has been known about since ancient times as far back as 10,000 years ago. Since 1982, pennies have been made from 97.5% zinc and 2.4% copper. This is true for pennies made before 1982 when they were 95% copper and 5% zinc. Around 5% of copper is used to make metal alloys such as brass (mixed with zinc) and bronze (mixed with tin). Copper is an excellent material for wiring because of its electrical conductivity, ductility, corrosion resistance, low thermal expansion, and tensile strength.Ĭopper is also used in plumbing, roofing, industrial machinery, integrated circuits (computer chips), cookware, coins, and electric motors. About 60% of the copper produced is used for electrical wiring and cable. The number one producer of mined copper is Chile who produces around 33% of the world's mined copper.Ĭopper is used mostly in its metal form. Fortunately, copper is 100% recyclable and large percentage of copper each year comes from recycling. This has caused an increase in the price of copper. The world-wide demand for copper has increased dramatically in recent years. Today, most copper is extracted from minerals such as copper sulfides or copper carbonates. This was how many ancient cultures were able to take advantage of the metal. Because copper is slow to react, it is often found in its pure form. This is what makes the Statue of Liberty green.Ĭopper is found in the Earth's crust. If water is also present, it will corrode to form a green carbonate called verdigris. When exposed to air, it will eventually tarnish to a brownish color. ![]() ![]() It is also very ductile allowing it to be easily bent and stretched into a wire.Ĭopper is not a very reactive element, but it will react slowly to air and water. It is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat. Under standard conditions copper is a soft orange-colored metal. Copper was one of the first metals to be used by man. Copper atoms have 29 electrons and 29 protons with 34 neutrons in the most abundant isotope. Discovered by: Known about since ancient timesĬopper is the first element in the eleventh column of the periodic table.
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