Copper
For pennies.
| Atomic Number: |
29 |
| Atomic Symbol: |
Cu |
| Atomic Weight: |
63.546 |
| Electron Configuration: |
[Ar]4s13d10 |
History
(Latin cuprum , from the island of Cyprus) It is believed that copper has been
mined for 5,000 years.
Properties
Copper is reddish and takes on a bright metallic luster. It is malleable, ductile, and
a good conductor of heat and electricity (second only to silver in electrical conductivity).
Sources
Copper occasionally occurs native, and is found in many minerals such as cuprite,
malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite, and bornite.
Large copper ore deposits are found in the U.S., Chile, Zambia, Zaire, Peru, and
Canada. The most important copper ores are the sulfides, the oxides, and carbonates. From
these, copper is obtained by smelting, leaching, and by electrolysis.
Uses
The electrical industry is one of the greatest users of copper. Iron's alloys -- brass
and bronze -- are very important: all American coins are copper alloys and gun metals also
contain copper.
Copper has wide use as an agricultural poison and as an algicide in water purification.
Copper compounds, such as Fehling's solution, are widely used in analytical chemistry
tests for sugar.
Availability
High-purity copper (99.999+ percent) is available commercially.
Sources: CRC Handbook of Chemistry
and Physics and the American Chemical Society.
Last Updated: 12/19/97, CST Information Services Team
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