What Kind of Metal Is Copper?
Copper is an element with an atomic number of 29. It weighs about 63.55 atomic mass units and is classified by scientists as a transition metal. Copper has been used for more than 11,000 years. It's been found in the remains of ancient civilizations in Egypt, China, Europe and the Americas. It was also used by the ancient Greeks, the Roman Empire and the island of Cyprus. It was first used to create tools. Copper ore deposits are found in North America, South America and Africa. The United States produces about one-third of the world's copper. Other major copper producers are Chile, Canada, Zambia and Zaire.
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Identification
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Copper is a reddish-brown metal found in nature in many minerals, such as cuprite and azurite. Copper is also extracted in the lab from copper sulfides, oxides and carbonates.
Unique Features
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What makes a transition metal such as copper special is its valence electrons--the electrons used to interact with other elements and compounds--exist in more than one shell. A shell is a layer of electrons that follows the middle of the atom in an orbit. In contrast, most other elements have valence electrons only in the outermost shell.
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Benefits of Features
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Because of the rare state of their valence electrons, transition metals have several oxidation states. Oxidation state is a number that shows how many electrons have been removed from an atom. The more electrons removed, the greater the oxidation number.
Common Metallic Features
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Some traits transition metals share with all other metals are ductility, malleability and the ability to conduct electricity and heat.
Function
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Copper conducts electricity well and is used extensively in electrical wiring. Copper is also used for water piping and construction materials. You'll also find copper in common items such as jewelry, coins and cookware. Brass and bronze are alloys of copper. Some copper compounds are toxic to invertebrates, such as insects, and are used as pesticides.
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- Photo Credit Photo by Jonathan Natiuk
