Copper
| Atomic Number: | 29 |
| Symbol: | Cu |
| Atomic Weight: | 63.546 |
| Discovery: | Copper has been known since prehistoric time. It has been mined for more than 5000 years. |
| Electron Configuration: | [Ar]4s13d10 |
| Word Origin: | Latin cuprum: from the isle of Cyprus |
| Properties: | Copper has a melting point of 1083.4 +/- 0.2°C, boiling point of 2567°C, specific gravity of 8.96 (20°C), with a valence of 1 or 2. Copper is reddish colored and takes a bright metallic luster. It is malleable, ductile, and a good conductor of electricity and heat. It is second only to silver as an electrical conductor. |
| Uses: | Copper is widely used in the electrical industry. In addition to many other uses, copper is used in plumbing and for cookware. Brass and bronze are two important copper alloys. Copper compounds are toxic to invertebrates and are used as algicides and pesticides. Copper compounds are used in analytical chemistry, as in the use of Fehling's solution to test for sugar. American coins contain copper. |
| Sources: | Sometimes copper appears in its native state. It is found in many minerals, including malachite, cuprite, bornite, azurite, and chalcopyrite. Copper ore deposits are known in North America, South America, and Africa. Copper is obtained by smelting, leaching, and electrolysis of the copper sulfides, oxides, and carbonates. Copper is commercially available at a purity of 99.999+ %. |
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