Facts about Copper

Copper is one of the most commonly used metals in the world. It is used in industries, in household products, for making coins, as a conductor of electricity, etc. The symbol of copper in the periodic table is Cu (which is derived from the Latin name Cuprum). Here are some fascinating facts about copper that will tell you more about this metal, its history, uses, etc.

Interesting Copper Facts

If you are looking for copper facts and properties of copper, then go through the following interesting facts:

• Who discovered copper is one of the most common questions that may arise in the minds of students. Unfortunately this is an unknown fact, as copper was known to man more than 10,000 years ago.
• The Chalcolithic, or the copper age was a phase in the 5th millennium BC which was marked as the stage of first use of metals. It was followed by the Bronze age, which only showed that the concept of alloying of zinc and copper to make bronze has been known since ancient times.
• Bronze and brass are the two most popular and commonly used alloys of copper. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; whereas bronze is an alloy of copper with other elements such as tin, aluminum or beryllium.
• The mummy of Ötzi the Iceman, who lived 5000 years ago, was found with an ax made of solid copper.
• Copper is located at the 11th group and 4th period in the periodic table.
• Large number of copper ore deposits are located in Africa, North America and South America.
• Copper is obtained by several processes like smelting, leaching, and electrolysis of the copper sulfides, carbonates and oxides.
• Did you know that one of the interesting facts is that the world famous Statue of Liberty contains around 2,00,000 pounds of copper.
• Some of the best physical properties of copper are, it is ductile, malleable, corrosion resistant to a great extent, and good conductor of heat and electricity.
• This metal is used in electronic product manufacturing, production of machinery and vehicles. Copper wiring and plumbing; it is used in making brakes, connectors, bearings, making it one of the most commonly used metals today.
• Copper is used in the currency of the United States; with dimes, quarters and half dollars having a solid copper core and an outer copper-nickel alloy layer.
• An alloy of copper with nickel, known as Monel and cupronickel is used in shipbuilding.
• Since its discovery, copper has been used in arms, which continues even today.

Some More Facts

The following are some quick copper facts or rather chemical properties of copper for kids and students.

• Symbol of copper ~ Cu
• Atomic number of copper ~ 29
• Atomic mass of copper ~ 63.546 amu
• Number of protons / electrons of copper ~ 29
• Number of neutrons of copper ~ 35
• Boiling point of copper ~ 4652.6 °F
• Melting point of copper ~ 1981.4 °F
• Oxidation state of copper ~ +1, +2, +3, +4 (mildly basic)
• Density of copper ~ 8.96 g/cc
• Classification of copper ~ Transition Metal
• Color of copper ~ red / orange
• Crystal structure of copper ~ Cubic
• State of copper at room temperature ~ Solid

With the myriad uses of copper known today, we can say that the copper age was a golden age in the history of mankind, and no lesser than a boon. Ciao!