Copper Element Properties and Information
Copper Element Properties and Information
Copper is the twenty-ninth element on the periodic table. Elements are arranged in the periodic table on the basis of the atomic number. Atomic number is the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom. Copper has an atomic number of 29. It is located in the Group 11 and Period 4 of the periodic table of elements. It is denoted by Cu. The name is derived from its old English name ‘Coper’.
Copper is one of those elements which is being used by humanity since prehistoric era. The widest use of copper was in the form of bronze which is an alloy of copper and tin. Bronze was used to make coin and tools. Copper has been excavated in northern Iraq which dates back to ten thousand years.
Cooper occurs in nature in its elemental form and also in combination with other elements. Copper occurs in many ores but the greatest source is chalcopyrite and bornite.
Physical Properties
- Copper displays reddish-gold or reddish-orange metallic luster but a fresh surface of copper has a pinkish-orange appearance.
- The atomic mass of copper is 63.546
- The melting point of copper is 1083°C
- The boiling point of copper is 2595°C
- The density of cooper is 8900 in S.I. units at 20°C
- Cooper is an extremely ductile metal. It is very easy to draw it into a wire.
- Cooper is an excellent thermal and electrical conductor.
- There are 29 known isotopes of copper among which only two are stable; copper-63 and copper-65. The most abundant isotope is copper-63 which makes up to 69% of the total copper available.
Chemical Properties
- Cooper forms a passivation layer of its oxide on the surface upon exposure to air.
- Copper does not react with water.
- Old copper structures like statue of liberty and roofs of old buildings got covered with a green layer of copper carbonate over time.
- Copper objects tarnish on getting contacted with sulphur because copper reacts to form its sulphide.
Methods of Production
- Copper extraction: Sulphide ores of copper are used to extract copper commercially. They contain about 0.6% of copper. Bioleaching is first used to concentrate the amount of copper in the ores from 0.6% to 10-15%. The concentrated ore is then heated with silica to remove iron, the iron sulphides are converted to iron oxides and then it reacts with silica to form silica slags which then separates and floats on top. The resulting matte mostly consists of cooper sulphides. It is roasted to convert all sulphides to oxides. The copper oxide is then converted to cooper and oxygen by heating.
- Recycling: High purity copper scraps simply melted in furnaces and then reduced to form billets and ingots. Low purity copper scraps are refined by electroplating in a bath of sulphuric acid.
Relevance in Chemical and Related Industries
Anti-microbial alloys: Copper-alloy touch surfaces have natural properties which destroy bacterias. More than 350 copper alloys are said to have gotten rid of 99.9% of bacterias within just two hours of them being cleaned. Thus many products are made because if this like; handrails, door knobs, sinks, toilet hardware, computer keyboard, etc.
Relevance in Other Industries
- Wire: About 60% of commercially produced copper is used for making electrical wires and cables. They are used in power transmissions, communications, electronics, almost everywhere in electrical applications.
- Architecture: Since copper is quite durable, if has been used since ancient times for making roofs, rain gutters, domes, down spouts, etc since ancient times.
Health Effects on Exposure
- Metal Fever: At copper centered work places, the copper contagion leads to a flu like condition called metal fever. This condition is caused by sensitivity and passes after two days.
- Long-term exposure: Irritation in nose, eyes, and mouth also headache, dizziness, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Effects on Surroundings
- Plants: If copper ends up in soil then it strongly attaches itself to minerals in the soil. Copper seriously affects the growth and survival of plants. Not many plant species can survive the copper-rich soil. Copper also interrupts the activity of microorganisms and earthworms.
- Herbivorous animals: When animals eat the plants growing in copper-rich soil. The copper content in their body will increase gradually and lead to a level which would cause cooper poisoning to occur.
References:
https://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/29/copper
