Copper | Properties | Uses | Other Details

Copper Properties Uses and Other Details

What is Copper

Copper is a metal, and chemically it is an element. Copper is a ductile and malleable metal of reddish-brown colour. The symbol for copper is Cu, and its atomic number is 29. The atomic weight of copper is 63.546 AMU, and its atom contains 29 electrons, 29 protons and 35 neutrons. Copper is solid at room temperature. The melting point of copper is 1084.62 °C (1984.32 °F) and its boiling point is 2560 °C (4640 °F). The density of copper is 8.96 grams per cubic centimeter. Position in the Periodic Table :- Copper is located in Block D, Group 11 and Period 4 in the Periodic Table.

Copper has been used for thousands of years, so it is unknown who discovered it.

Copper Properties Uses and Other details

Properties of Copper

• Copper is a ductile and soft metal of reddish brown colour.
• Copper is the best conductor of heat.
• Copper is the second best conductor of electricity. and silver is the best conductor of electricity, But due to the high cost of silver, copper is used instead of silver in electrical appliances.
• Copper has very little chemical reactivity.
• On coming in contact with moist air, a green colored layer is formed on the copper, which is called patina. This layer protects the copper from further damage from the atmosphere.
• Copper is counted among some metals that have a different color, while most of the metals are gray and silver in color.
• Oxygen, nitrogen and sulfur dioxide are soluble in molten copper.
• Copper readily dissolves in nitric acid and sulfuric acid in the presence of oxygen.

Uses of Copper

• In ancient times copper was used to make hand tools and coins.
• Copper is one of the best conductors of heat, so it is used to make heating systems, heat exchangers, refrigeration tubing, AC tubing, copper crucibles, and utensils.
• Copper is used to make alloys. More than 400 types of alloys are made with the use of copper, in which different types of gunmetal, brass, bronze, copper-nickel etc. alloys are prominent. Ornaments are also made by adding some amount of copper to gold.
• Copper has very good corrosion resistance, so it is used in making water pipes and their fittings, making oil and gas lines, making rainwater systems. Many parts and equipment of marine vessels are also made from copper and copper alloys.
• Copper is the second best conductor of electricity, so it is used to make most of the things used in electricity such as electric wires, electrodes, electric motors, etc.
• The copper compound copper sulfate is used in agriculture as an insecticide. Apart from this, copper sulphate is used in water purification and in making blue pigment for ink.
• Copper compound copper chloride (CuCl2) is used to make dyes permanent in clothes.
• The copper compound cuprous chloride (CuCl), a toxic white powder, is used to absorb carbon dioxide.
• The copper compound copper cyanide (CuCN) is used in electroplating.

Interesting facts about copper

• It is known from archaeological evidence that copper was used even 11000 years ago.
• Copper is the most widely used industrial metal in the world after iron and aluminum.
• An adult human requires about 1.2 mg of copper per day, it helps in energy transfer in our body. Copper in excess of this is toxic to the body.
• Copper in our body is helpful in the formation of hemoglobin and red blood cells.
• About 100 to 125 kg of copper is used in an average house.
• Gold contains some amount of copper, even 24K gold contains some amount of copper.
• Copper is 100% recyclable, so an estimated 80% of all copper produced in the world is still in use today.
• Copper is about 15% heavier than iron.
• Chile is the largest producer of copper in the world.

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