Periodic Table of Elements: Copper (original) (raw)

• Skip to page content
• Skip to site menu on this page

Element Copper - Cu

Comprehensive data on the chemical element Copper is provided on this page; including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides of Copper. Common chemical compounds are also provided for many elements. In addition technical terms are linked to their definitions and the menu contains links to related articles that are a great aid in one's studies.

Copper Menu

• Copper Page One
  • Overview of Copper
  • Copper's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Copper
  • Chemical Properties of Copper
  • Physical Properties of Copper
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Copper Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Copper Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Copper

Overview of Copper

• Atomic Number: 29
• Group: 11
• Period: 4
• Series: Transition Metals

Copper's Name in Other Languages

• Latin: Cuprum
• Czech: Měd´
• Croatian: Bakar
• French: Cuivre
• German: Kupfer - e
• Italian: Rame
• Norwegian: Kobber
• Portuguese: Cobre
• Russian: Медь
• Spanish: Cobre
• Swedish: Koppar

Atomic Structure of Copper

Chemical Properties of Copper

• Electrochemical Equivalent: 1.1855g/amp-hr
• Electron Work Function: 4.65eV
• Electronegativity: 1.9 (Pauling); 1.75 (Allrod Rochow)
• Heat of Fusion: 13.05kJ/mol
• Incompatibilities:
  Oxidizers, alkalis, sodium azide, acetylene
• Ionization Potential
  • First: 7.726
  • Second: 20.292
  • Third: 36.83
• Valence Electron Potential (-eV): 34

Physical Properties of Copper

• Atomic Mass Average: 63.546
• Boiling Point: 2840K 2567°C 4653°F
• Coefficient of lineal thermal expansion/K-1: 16.5E-6
• Conductivity
  Electrical: 0.596 106/cm Ω
  Thermal: 4.01 W/cmK
• Density: 8.96g/cc @ 300K
• Description:
  Reddish orange transition metal.
• Elastic Modulus:
  • Bulk: 137.8/GPa
  • Rigidity: 48.3/GPa
  • Youngs: 129.8/GPa
• Enthalpy of Atomization: 338.9 kJ/mole @ 25°C
• Enthalpy of Fusion: 13.01 kJ/mole
• Enthalpy of Vaporization: 304.6 kJ/mole
• Flammablity Class: Non-combustible solid (except as dust)
• Freezing Point: see melting point
• Hardness Scale
  • Brinell: 874 MN m-2
  • Mohs: 3
  • Vickers: 369 MN m-2
• Heat of Vaporization: 300.3kJ/mol
• Melting Point: 1357.75K 1084.6°C 1984.3°F
• Molar Volume: 7.11 cm3/mole
• Optical Reflectivity: 90%
• Physical State (at 20°C & 1atm): Solid
• Specific Heat: 0.38J/gK
• Vapor Pressure = 0.0505Pa@1084.6°C

Regulatory / Health

• CAS Number
  • 7440-50-8
• RTECS: GL5325000
• NFPA 704
  • Health: 2
  • Fire:
  • Reactivity:
  • Special Hazard:
• OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL)
  • TWA: 1 mg/m3
• OSHA PEL Vacated 1989
  • TWA: 1 mg/m3
• NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limit (REL)
  • TWA: 1 mg/m3
  • IDLH: 100 mg/m3
• Routes of Exposure: Inhalation; Ingestion; Skin and/or eye contact
• Target Organs: Eyes, skin, respiratory system, liver, kidneys (increase(d) risk with Wilson's disease)
• Levels In Humans:
  Note: this data represents naturally occuring levels of elements in the typical human, it DOES NOT represent recommended daily allowances.
  • Blood/mg dm-3: 1.01
  • Bone/p.p.m: 1-26
  • Liver/p.p.m: 30
  • Muscle/p.p.m: 10
  • Daily Dietary Intake: 0.50-6 mg
  • Total Mass In Avg. 70kg human: 72 mg

Who / Where / When / How

• Discoverer: Known to ancient civilization
• Discovery Location: Unknown
• Discovery Year: Unknown
• Name Origin:
  Latin: cyprium (island of Cyprus famed for its copper mines).
• Abundance of Copper:
  • Earth's Crust/p.p.m.: 50
  • Seawater/p.p.m.:
    * Atlantic Suface: 0.00008
    * Atlantic Deep: 0.00012
    * Pacific Surface: 0.00008
    * Pacific Deep: 0.00028
  • Atmosphere/p.p.m.: N/A
  • Sun (Relative to H=1E12): 1.15
• Sources of Copper:
  Pure copper occurs rarely in nature. Usually copper found in such minerals as azurite, malachite and bornite and in sulfides as in chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), coveline (CuS), chalcosine (Cu2S) or oxides like cuprite (Cu2O). Copper is obtained by smelting, leaching and by electrolysis. Annual world production is around 6,540,000 tons. Primary mining areas are in USA, Zaire, Zambia, Canada, Chile, Cyprus, Russia and Australia.
• Uses of Copper:
  Most often used as an electrical conductor. Its alloys are used in jewelry, bronze sculptures and for coins. The skin of the Statue of Liberty is made of copper.
• Additional Notes:
  Copper is a very interesting element. It is one of the transition elements that actually uses electrons from one of the inner orbitals in chemical reactions. In addition, it has more than one oxidation state. Like many of the transition elements, copper has a colored ion. Copper typically forms a bluish green solution. Copper (Cu) has two valences Cu I (cuprous) has one valence electron and Cu II (cupric) has two valence electrons. Copper was one of the earliest known metals, having reportedly been mined for over 5000 years. In nature it has two isotopes, 63 (69.09%), which has 29 electrons and protons and 34 neutrons, and 65 (30.91%), which has 29 electrons and protons and 36 neutrons. Brass and bronze are alloys of copper.

Copper Menu

• Copper Page One
  • Overview of Copper
  • Copper's Name in Other Languages
  • Atomic Structure of Copper
  • Chemical Properties of Copper
  • Physical Properties of Copper
  • Regulatory / Health
  • Who/When/Where/How
• Copper Page Two
  • Nuclides / Isotopes
  • Potential Parent Nuclides
• Copper Page Three
  • Common Chemical Compounds of Copper

References

A list of reference sources used to compile the data provided on our periodic table of elements can be found on the main periodic table page.

Related Resources

• Anatomy of the Atom
  Answers many questions regarding the structure of atoms.
• Molarity, Molality and Normality
  Introduces stoichiometry and explains the differences between molarity, molality and normality.
• Molar Mass Calculations and Javascript Calculator
  Molar mass calculations are explained and there is a JavaScript calculator to aid calculations.
• Chemical Database
  This database focuses on the most common chemical compounds used in the home and industry.

Citing this page

If you need to cite this page, you can copy this text:

Kenneth Barbalace. Periodic Table of Elements - Copper - Cu. EnvironmentalChemistry.com. 1995 - 2024. Accessed on-line: 11/17/2024
https://EnvironmentalChemistry.com/yogi/periodic/Cu.html
.

Linking to this page

If you would like to link to this page from your website, blog, etc., copy and paste this link code (in red) and modify it to suit your needs:

echo Periodic Table of Elements: Copper - Cu (EnvironmentalChemistry.com)- Comprehensive information for the element Copper - Cu is provided by this page including scores of properties, element names in many languages, most known nuclides and technical terms are linked to their definitions.
.

NOTICE: While linking to articles is encouraged, OUR ARTICLES MAY NOT BE COPIED TO OR REPUBLISHED ON ANOTHER WEBSITE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES.

PLEASE, if you like an article we published simply link to it on our website do not republish it.