Copper Chemical Formula

What is Copper?

This article deals with the copper chemical formula. Copper refers to a chemical element that is a good conductor of heat and electricity. It is an element that is present in those materials that we use on a daily basis. Copper is a metal that is soft, malleable and ductile. This element is an important building material and is a constituent in various metal alloys.

Copper Chemical Formula

Copper happens to be one of the few metals that occur in nature in a metallic form that is directly usable. Because of this reason, early humans were able to make use of copper.  This element certainly occurs naturally throughout the environment- water, air, soil, and rocks. Furthermore, copper is an important element in animals and plants, hence it is necessary for survival.

Derivation of Copper Chemical Formula

Copper is an element that has a symbol of Cu. On combining with other elements or radicals, one can represent it in various formulas, for example, CuSO4. Furthermore, the atomic number of this chemical element is 29. Moreover, copper is in group 11 of the periodic table.

Physical Properties of Copper

Copper, gold, and silver, all exist in group 11 of the periodic table.  Furthermore, these metals have one s-orbitol electron on top of a d-electron shell that is filled. Moreover, these three have high ductility characteristics. Also, there is a little contribution of the filled d-shells to the interatomic interactions.

There is a domination of s-electrons in interatomic interactions through metallic bonds. Metallic bonds in copper lack a covalent character. Furthermore, these metallic bonds in copper are relatively weak in comparison to metals with incomplete d-shells.

Copper is a soft element by nature. Moreover, this softness partly explains the high thermal and electrical conductivity of copper. In fact, the high electrical and thermal conductivity of copper at room temperature is the second-highest among pure metals.

The reason for this is that the origin of resistivity to electron transportation in metals at room temperature is from electrons scattering on the lattice’s thermal vibrations.  These vibrations in soft metals are weak relatively.

Copper happens to be one of a few metallic elements that have a color other than silver or gray. Furthermore, pure copper has an orange-red color and after exposure to air, it acquires reddish tarnish. Moreover, the color of copper is due to the electronic transition of the filled 3d atomic shell and the half-empty 4s atomic shell.

So, the orange color is due to the energy difference between these shells. Also, if copper comes into contact with another metal, then the result will be galvanic corrosion.

Chemical Properties of Copper

Copper does not react when it comes into contact with water. Furthermore, copper slowly reacts with atmospheric oxygen slowly to result in the formation of a brown-black copper oxide layer. This layer is not like the rust that forms on iron in moist air. Moreover, this brown-black copper oxide layer protects the underlying metal from further corrosion (passivation).

One can see a green layer of verdigris (copper carbonate) on old copper structures, such as in many older buildings and structures. Tarnishing of copper takes place when it is exposed to some sulfur compounds. Consequently, copper reacts with these sulfur compounds to form various copper sulfides.

Uses of Copper

The major usage of copper is in plumbing, roofing, and electric wire. Furthermore, the application of copper paints takes place on boat nulls so as to control the growth of plant and shellfish. Copper is used as nutritional supplements and fungicides in agriculture.

Solved Question For You

Question- What is Copper and its symbol?

Answer- Copper refers to a metal that is soft, malleable and ductile. Furthermore, it is a chemical element that is a good conductor of heat and electricity. Also, copper has the symbol of Cu.