| Copper - Cu
CAS: 7440-50-8 Description: Reddish-orange metal Classification: Transition Metal Date of Discovery: Known to the ancients Discoverer: Unknown Name Origin: Latin cuprum, from the island of "Cyprus" |
|
|
Atomic Number: 29
Number of Neutrons: 35 Atomic Mass: 63.546(3) amu Melting Point: 1084.62 °C Boiling Point: 2562 °C Density (293 K): 8.96 g/cm3 Atomic volume: 7.1 cm3/mol Electrical resistivity: 0.596 10-6/cm 
Thermal conductivity: 4.01 W/cmK Enthalpy of atomization: 338.9 kJ/mol Enthalpy of vaporization: 300.30 kJ/mol Enthalpy of fusion: 13.050 kJ/mol Specific heat capacity: 0.38 J/gK |
Energy levels: 2-8-17-2
Electron configuration: [Ar]3d104s1 Crystal Structure: Cubic face centered Atomic radius: 1.57 Å Covalent radius: 1.17 Å Oxidation States: +1, +2 Electronegativity, Pauling: 1.9 Electron affinity: 1.235 eV First ionization energy: 7.726 eV 2nd ionization energy: 20.292 eV 3rd ionization energy: 36.83 eV Polarizability: 6.1 10-24cm3 |
| Isotope | Natural Abundance | Atomic Mass | Half-life | Decay Mode | Spin |
| 55Cu | 54.9655 |  + |
|||
| 56Cu | 55.9586 | + |
|||
| 57Cu | 56.94922 | 0.23 s | + |
3/2- | |
| 58Cu | 57.944541 | 3.21 s | +; EC |
1+ | |
| 59Cu | 58.939504 | 1.36 m | + |
3/2- | |
| 60Cu | 59.937368 | 23.7 m | +; EC |
2+ | |
| 61Cu | 60.933462 | 3.35 h | + |
3/2- | |
| 62Cu | 61.932587 | 9.74 m | +; EC |
1+ | |
| 63Cu | 69.17(3) | 62.929601 | Stable | 3/2- | |
| 64Cu | 63.929768 | 12.701 h | -; +; EC |
1+ | |
| 65Cu | 30.83(3) | 64.927794 | Stable | 3/2- | |
| 66Cu | 65.928873 | 5.09 m | - |
1+ | |
| 67Cu | 66.92775 | 2.580 d | - |
3/2- | |
| 68mCu | 3.79 m | IT; - |
6- | ||
| 68Cu | 67.92964 | 31 s | - |
1+ | |
| 69Cu | 68.92943 | 2.8 m | - |
3/2- | |
| 70mCu | 47 s | - |
5- | ||
| 70Cu | 69.93241 | 5 s | - |
1+ | |
| 71Cu | 70.93262 | 20 s | - |
3/2- | |
| 72Cu | 71.9357 | 6.6 s | - |
(1+) | |
| 73Cu | 72.9365 | 3.9 s | - |
||
| 74Cu | 73.9401 | 1.6 s | - |
||
| 75Cu | 74.9414 | 1.2 s | - |
||
| 76Cu | 75.9455 | 0.64 s | - |
||
| 77Cu | 76.947 | 0.47 s | - |
||
| 78Cu | 77.952 | 0.34 s | - |
||
| 79Cu | 78.954 | 0.19 s | - |
||
|
The discovery of copper dates from prehistoric times. It is said to have been mined for more than 5,000 years. It is one of man's most important metals. Copper is reddish colored, takes on a bright metallic luster, and is malleable, ductile, and a good conductor of heat and electricity (second only to silver in electrical conductivity). The electrical industry is one of the greatest users of copper. Copper occasionally occurs native, and is found in many minerals such as cuprite (Cu2O), malachite [Cu2(CO3)(OH)2], azurite [Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2] , chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), bornite (Cu5FeS4), chalcosine (Cu2S), and coveline (CuS). Large copper ore deposits are found in the U.S., Chile, Zambia, Zaire, Peru, and Canada. The most important copper ores are the sulfides, the oxides, and carbonates. From these, copper is obtained by smelting, leaching, and by electrolysis. Its alloys, brass and bronze, long used, are still very important; all American coins are now copper alloys; monel and gun metals also contain copper. The most important compunds are the oxide and the sulfate, blue vitriol; the latter has wide use as an agricultural poison and as an algicide in water purification. Copper compounds such as Fehling's solution are widely used in analytical chemistry in tests for sugar. High-purity copper (99.999+%) is available commercially. Natural copper contains two isotopes. Twenty-five other radioactive isotopes and isomers are known.
LINKS: Canadian Copper and Brass Development Association Copper Chip Technology Copper Toxicosis In The Bedlington Terrier International Copper Association Hellenic Copper Development Institute Marine Appplications of Copper-Nickel Alloys Microstructures of Copper and Copper Alloys Structure and function of copper proteins Return
Sources for the information on this website include: Lide, David R., ed. CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 78th Ed., 1997-1998. |
|||||