Melting Point of Copper

Copper is an ancient metal that has been used to make ornaments, coins, utensils, statues, etc. Copper is a ductile metal that has high thermal and electrical conductivity. It is a chemical element with symbol Cu. It has been used for over a thousand years and was first mined in Cyrus during the Roman era. This gave rise to its name Cyprium also called 'metal of Cyprus'. Copper was discovered in the ancient times in its native form, thus giving rise to the 'Copper Age' after the 'Stone Age'.

Copper and its Melting Point

The melting point of copper is 1357.77° K, 1084.62° C or 1984.32° F. Pure copper and high copper alloys are very difficult to melt. It is also susceptible of gassing. When chromium copper is melted it leads to loss of chromium. This problem is solved by melting copper chromium under a floating flux that prevents oxidation and picks up hydrogen from the atmosphere. When the molten metal reaches 1260° C, calcium boride or lithium is plunged into the molten bath that helps in deoxidizing.

Copper Carbonate
Copper carbonate is found in weathered brass, copper and bronze. You can easily identify it with its color of bright blue to green. The color so formed is due to copper carbonate and the different stages of hydration of copper carbonate. Copper in moist air oxidizes to a dull green color and therefore used by architects to create some interesting features on the buildings. The melting point of copper carbonate is 200°C. At high temperature, copper carbonate decomposes to carbon dioxide and copper (II) oxide.

CuCO₃ (solid) → CuO (solid) + CO₂ (gas)

Copper Alloy
There are many copper alloys that are divided into three groups according to their freezing range. The solidification of copper alloys occur when the temperatures drops below liquidus (temperature at which metals begin to freeze) and is completed before the temperature reaches solidus (temperature at which metal is completely frozen). Speculum metal and bronze are alloys of copper and tin that have a melting point of 1900 - 1950° F. Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc and has a melting point of 900 to 940°C.

Properties of Copper

Copper is a metal that is softer than iron but harder than zinc. It can be polished to give a bright finish. It is present in the group 11 of periodic table with silver and gold. It has a very low chemical reactivity and dissolves in hot concentrated hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. It is corroded by salt water and forms a chloride.

Uses of Copper

Copper is used in electrical wiring and every electrical device is connected with copper wires, as it is highly conductive and relatively inexpensive. Old telephone wires also used thick bundles of copper wires. Brass and bronze, alloys of copper are used in construction of roofs, heating and plumbing system. The skeleton of the building is also made by using brass and bronze rods.

Gunmetal containing 90% copper and 10% tin is used to make guns. Coinage metal another copper alloy is used to make US coins. Copper compounds like basic copper acetate, copper chromate, copper fluotosilicate, copper oxalate, etc., are used as pesticides and insecticides.

Many copper compounds are used in fireworks, fire retardants, water purification methods, wood preservatives, metal preservatives, manufacturing of ceramics and enamels, photographic films, etc.

In many animals like crustaceans, hemocyanin instead of hemoglobin (iron and oxygen), makes up the blood. Hemocyanin is similar to hemoglobin and contains copper instead of iron. This makes the blood of crustaceans blue and not red.

This was all about melting point of copper and some uses of copper. Copper as you can see needs high temperatures to melt.