Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable, and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity and has a melting point of 1085 °C degrees (1984 °F degrees). A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a pinkish-orange color. Copper is used as a conductor of heat and electricity, as a building material, and as a constituent of various metal alloys.
Natural sources[edit | edit source]
Copper can be found in pure or nearly-pure nuggets as "native" copper in several places, including in the upper peninsula of Michigan and Coro Coro, Bolivia. Copper can also be obtained from copper ore by the process of copper smelting.
Uses[edit | edit source]
Copper is very ductile and electrically conductive, making copper wire a common choice for electrical circuits. Copper can be alloyed with other metals, for instance with tin to create bronze and with zinc to create brass. It can also be used for ornamentation, although it does slowly oxidize forming a green patina.
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