Copper Element Information, Facts, Properties, Trends, Uses, Comparison with other elements
Copper is a chemical element with symbol Cu (from Latin:cuprum) and atomic number 29. It is a soft, malleable and ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. A freshly exposed surface of pure copper has a reddish-orange color.
It belongs to group 11 of the periodic table having trivial name coinage metals. You can also download Printable Periodic Table of Elements Flashcards for Copper in a PDF format.
Copper Facts
Read key information and facts about element Copper
| Name | Copper |
| Atomic Number | 29 |
| Atomic Symbol | Cu |
| Atomic Weight | 63.546 |
| Phase | Solid |
| Color | Copper |
| Appearance | red-orange metallic luster |
| Classification | Transition Metal |
| Natural Occurance | Primordial |
| Group in Periodic Table | 11 |
| Group Name | copper family |
| Period in Periodic Table | period 4 |
| Block in Periodic Table | d-block |
| Electronic Configuration | [Ar] 3d10 4s1 |
| Electronic Shell Structure (Electrons per shell) | 2, 8, 18, 1 |
| Melting Point | 1357.77 K |
| Boiling Point | 3200 K |
| CAS Number | CAS7440-50-8 |
How to Locate Copper on Periodic Table
Periodic table is arranged by atomic number, number of protons in the nucleus which is same as number of electrons. The atomic number increases from left to right. Periodic table starts at top left ( Atomic number 1) and ends at bottom right (atomic number 118). Therefore you can directly look for atomic number 29 to find Copper on periodic table.
Another way to read periodic table and locate an element is by using group number (column) and period number (row). To locate Copper on periodic table look for cross section of group 11 and period 4 in the modern periodic table.
Copper History
The element Copper was discovered by Middle East in year 9000 BCE . Copper was first isolated by Anatolia in 6000 BCE. Copper derived its name from English word (Latin cuprum).
| Discovered By | Middle East |
| Discovery Date | 9000 BCE |
| First Isolation | |
| Isolated by |
Copper was probably the first metal mined and crafted by humans. It was originally obtained as a native metal and later from the smelting of ores. Earliest estimates of the discovery of copper suggest around 9000 BCE in the Middle East. It was one of the most important materials to humans throughout the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages. Copper beads dating from 6000 BCE have been found in Çatal Höyük , Anatolia.
Copper Uses
Copper is one of the best conductors of electricity, which leads to its use in electronics and motors. Copper is also very thermally conductive an is used in radiators, A/C units, and heating systems.
Copper Presence: Abundance in Nature and Around Us
The table below shows the abundance of Copper in Universe, Sun, Meteorites, Earth's Crust, Oceans and Human Body.
| ppb by weight (1ppb =10^-7 %) | ppb by atoms (1ppb =10^-7 %) | |
|---|---|---|
| Abundance in Universe | 60 | 1 |
| Abundance in Sun | 700 | 10 |
| Abundance in Meteorites | 110000 | 31000 |
| Abundance in Earth's Crust | 68000 | 22000 |
| Abundance in Oceans | 3 | 0.29 |
| Abundance in Humans | 1000 | 99 |
Crystal Structure of Copper
The solid state structure of Copper is Face Centered Cubic.
The Crystal structure can be described in terms of its unit Cell. The unit Cells repeats itself in three dimensional space to form the structure.
Unit Cell Parameters
The unit cell is represented in terms of its lattice parameters, which are the lengths of the cell edges Lattice Constants (a, b and c)
| a | b | c |
|---|---|---|
| 361.49 pm | 361.49 pm | 361.49 pm |
and the angles between them Lattice Angles (alpha, beta and gamma).
| alpha | beta | gamma |
|---|---|---|
| π/2 | π/2 | π/2 |
The positions of the atoms inside the unit cell are described by the set of atomic positions ( xi, yi, zi) measured from a reference lattice point.
The symmetry properties of the crystal are described by the concept of space groups. All possible symmetric arrangements of particles in three-dimensional space are described by the 230 space groups (219 distinct types, or 230 if chiral copies are considered distinct.
| Space Group Name | Fm_ 3m |
| Space Group Number | 225 |
| Crystal Structure | Face Centered Cubic |
| Number of atoms per unit cell | 4 |
The number of atoms per unit cell in a simple cubic, face-centered cubic and body-centred cubic are 1,4,2 respectively.
Copper Atomic and Orbital Properties
Copper atoms have 29 electrons and the electronic shell structure is [2, 8, 18, 1] with Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) 2S1/2.
| Atomic Number | 29 |
| Number of Electrons (with no charge) | 29 |
| Number of Protons | 29 |
| Mass Number | 64 |
| Number of Neutrons | 35 |
| Shell structure (Electrons per energy level) | 2, 8, 18, 1 |
| Electron Configuration | [Ar] 3d10 4s1 |
| Valence Electrons | 3d10 4s1 |
| Valence (Valency) | 2 |
| Main Oxidation States | 1, 2 |
| Oxidation States | -2, 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 |
| Atomic Term Symbol (Quantum Numbers) | 2S1/2 |
Bohr Atomic Model of Copper - Electrons per energy level
| n | s | p | d | f |
|---|
Ground State Electronic Configuration of Copper - neutral Copper atom
Abbreviated electronic configuration of Copper
The ground state abbreviated electronic configuration of Neutral Copper atom is [Ar] 3d10 4s1. The portion of Copper configuration that is equivalent to the noble gas of the preceding period, is abbreviated as [Ar]. For atoms with many electrons, this notation can become lengthy and so an abbreviated notation is used. This is important as it is the Valence electrons 3d10 4s1, electrons in the outermost shell that determine the chemical properties of the element.
Unabbreviated electronic configuration of neutral Copper
Complete ground state electronic configuration for the Copper atom, Unabbreviated electronic configuration
1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 3d10 4s1
Electrons are filled in atomic orbitals as per the order determined by the Aufbau principle, Pauli Exclusion Principle and Hund’s Rule.
As per the Aufbau principle the electrons will occupy the orbitals having lower energies before occupying higher energy orbitals. According to this principle, electrons are filled in the following order: 1s, 2s, 2p, 3s, 3p, 4s, 3d, 4p, 5s, 4d, 5p, 6s, 4f, 5d, 6p, 7s, 5f, 6d, 7p…
The Pauli exclusion principle states that a maximum of two electrons, each having opposite spins, can fit in an orbital.
Hund's rule states that every orbital in a given subshell is singly occupied by electrons before a second electron is filled in an orbital.
Atomic Structure of Copper
Copper atomic radius is 145 pm, while it's covalent radius is 138 pm.
| Atomic Radius Calculated | 145 pm(1.45 Å) |
| Atomic Radius Empirical | 135 pm (1.35 Å) |
| Atomic Volume | 7.124 cm3/mol |
| Covalent Radius | 138 pm (1.38 Å) |
| Van der Waals Radius | 140 pm |
| Neutron Cross Section | 3.78 |
| Neutron Mass Absorption | 0.0021 |
Spectral Lines of Copper - Atomic Spectrum of Copper
A spectral line is a dark or bright line in an otherwise uniform and continuous spectrum, resulting from an excess or deficiency of photons in a narrow frequency range, compared with the nearby frequencies. Spectral lines are often used to identify atoms and molecules.
Spectral lines are the result of interaction between a quantum system and a single photon. A spectral line may be observed either as an emission line or an absorption line.
Spectral lines are highly atom-specific, and can be used to identify the chemical composition of any medium. Several elements, including helium, thallium, and caesium, were discovered by spectroscopic means. They are widely used to determine the physical conditions of stars and other celestial bodies that cannot be analyzed by other means.
Emission spectrum of Copper
Absorption spectrum of Copper
Copper Chemical Properties: Copper Ionization Energies and electron affinity
The electron affinity of Copper is 118.4 kJ/mol.
| Valence | 2 |
| Electronegativity | 1.9 |
| ElectronAffinity | 118.4 kJ/mol |
Ionization Energy of Copper
Ionization energy is the amount of energy required to remove an electron from an atom or molecule.in chemistry, this energy is expresed in kilocalories per mole (kcal/mol) or kilojoules per mole (kJ/mol).
Refer to table below for Ionization energies of Copper
| Ionization energy number | Enthalpy - kJ/mol |
|---|---|
| 1st | 745.5 |
| 2nd | 1957.9 |
| 3rd | 3555 |
| 4th | 5536 |
| 5th | 7700 |
| 6th | 9900 |
| 7th | 13400 |
| 8th | 16000 |
| 9th | 19200 |
| 10th | 22400 |
| 11th | 25600 |
| 12th | 35600 |
| 13th | 38700 |
| 14th | 42000 |
| 15th | 46700 |
| 16th | 50200 |
| 17th | 53700 |
| 18th | 61100 |
| 19th | 64702 |
| 20th | 163700 |
| 21st | 174100 |
| 22nd | 184900 |
| 23rd | 198800 |
| 24th | 210500 |
| 25th | 222700 |
| 26th | 239100 |
| 27th | 249660 |
| 28th | 1067358 |
| 29th | 1116105 |
Copper Physical Properties
Refer to below table for Copper Physical Properties
| Density | 8.92 g/cm3(when liquid at m.p density is $8.02 g/cm3) |
| Molar Volume | 7.124 cm3/mol |
Elastic Properties
| Young Modulus | 130 |
| Shear Modulus | 48 GPa |
| Bulk Modulus | 140 GPa |
| Poisson Ratio | 0.34 |
Hardness of Copper - Tests to Measure of Hardness of Element
| Mohs Hardness | 3 MPa |
| Vickers Hardness | 369 MPa |
| Brinell Hardness | 874 MPa |
Copper Electrical Properties
Electrical resistivity measures element's electrical resistance or how strongly it resists electric current.The SI unit of electrical resistivity is the ohm-metre (Ω⋅m). While Electrical conductivity is the reciprocal of electrical resistivity. It represents a element's ability to conduct electric current. The SI unit of electrical conductivity is siemens per metre (S/m).
Copper is a conductor of electricity. Refer to table below for the Electrical properties of Copper
| Electrical conductors | Conductor |
| Electrical Conductivity | 59000000 S/m |
| Resistivity | 1.7e-8 m Ω |
| Superconducting Point | - |
Copper Heat and Conduction Properties
| Thermal Conductivity | 400 W/(m K) |
| Thermal Expansion | 0.0000165 /K |
Copper Magnetic Properties
| Magnetic Type | Diamagnetic |
| Curie Point | - |
| Mass Magnetic Susceptibility | -1.08e-9 m3/kg |
| Molar Magnetic Susceptibility | -6.86e-11 m3/mol |
| Volume Magnetic Susceptibility | -0.00000963 |
Optical Properties of Copper
| Refractive Index | - |
Acoustic Properties of Copper
| Speed of Sound | 3570 m/s |
Copper Thermal Properties - Enthalpies and thermodynamics
Refer to table below for Thermal properties of Copper
| Melting Point | 1357.77 K(1084.62 °C, 1984.316 °F) |
| Boiling Point | 3200 K(2926.85 °C, 5300.330 °F) |
| Critical Temperature | - |
| Superconducting Point | - |
Enthalpies of Copper
| Heat of Fusion | 13.1 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Vaporization | 300 kJ/mol |
| Heat of Combustion | - |
Copper Isotopes - Nuclear Properties of Copper
Copper has 29 isotopes, with between 52 and 80 nucleons. Copper has 2 stable naturally occuring isotopes.
Isotopes of Copper - Naturally occurring stable Isotopes: 63Cu, 65Cu.
| Isotope | Z | N | Isotope Mass | % Abundance | T half | Decay Mode |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52Cu | 29 | 23 | 52 | Synthetic | ||
| 53Cu | 29 | 24 | 53 | Synthetic | ||
| 54Cu | 29 | 25 | 54 | Synthetic | ||
| 55Cu | 29 | 26 | 55 | Synthetic | ||
| 56Cu | 29 | 27 | 56 | Synthetic | ||
| 57Cu | 29 | 28 | 57 | Synthetic | ||
| 58Cu | 29 | 29 | 58 | Synthetic | ||
| 59Cu | 29 | 30 | 59 | Synthetic | ||
| 60Cu | 29 | 31 | 60 | Synthetic | ||
| 61Cu | 29 | 32 | 61 | Synthetic | ||
| 62Cu | 29 | 33 | 62 | Synthetic | ||
| 63Cu | 29 | 34 | 63 | 69.17% | Stable | N/A |
| 64Cu | 29 | 35 | 64 | Synthetic | Stable | |
| 65Cu | 29 | 36 | 65 | 30.83% | Stable | N/A |
| 66Cu | 29 | 37 | 66 | Synthetic | ||
| 67Cu | 29 | 38 | 67 | Synthetic | ||
| 68Cu | 29 | 39 | 68 | Synthetic | ||
| 69Cu | 29 | 40 | 69 | Synthetic | ||
| 70Cu | 29 | 41 | 70 | Synthetic | ||
| 71Cu | 29 | 42 | 71 | Synthetic | ||
| 72Cu | 29 | 43 | 72 | Synthetic | ||
| 73Cu | 29 | 44 | 73 | Synthetic | ||
| 74Cu | 29 | 45 | 74 | Synthetic | ||
| 75Cu | 29 | 46 | 75 | Synthetic | ||
| 76Cu | 29 | 47 | 76 | Synthetic | ||
| 77Cu | 29 | 48 | 77 | Synthetic | ||
| 78Cu | 29 | 49 | 78 | Synthetic | ||
| 79Cu | 29 | 50 | 79 | Synthetic | ||
| 80Cu | 29 | 51 | 80 | Synthetic |
Regulatory and Health - Health and Safety Parameters and Guidelines
The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) identifies hazard class of all dangerous elements/goods/commodities either by its class (or division) number or name. The DOT has divided these materials into nine different categories, known as Hazard Classes.
| DOT Numbers | 3089 |
| DOT Hazard Class | 4.1 |
NFPA 704 is a Standard System for the Identification of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response. NFPA is a standard maintained by the US based National Fire Protection Association.
The health (blue), flammability (red), and reactivity (yellow) rating all use a numbering scale ranging from 0 to 4. A value of zero means that the element poses no hazard; a rating of four indicates extreme danger.
| NFPA Fire Rating | 1 | Flash Points Above 93.3°C (200°F) |
| NFPA Health Rating | 1 | Flash Points Above 93.3°C (200°F) |
| NFPA Reactivity Rating | 0 | Will not burn |
| NFPA Hazards |
| Autoignition Point | - |
| Flashpoint | - |
Database Search
List of unique identifiers to search the element in various chemical registry databases
| Database | Identifier number |
|---|---|
| CAS Number - Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) | CAS7440-50-8 |
| RTECS Number | RTECSGL5325000 |
| CID Number | CID23978 |
| Gmelin Number | - |
| NSC Number | - |
Compare Copper with other elements
Compare Copper with Group 11, Period 4 and Transition Metal elements of the periodic table.
Compare Copper with all Group 11 elements
Compare Copper with all Period 4 elements
Compare Copper with all Transition Metal elements
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Find the answers to the most frequently asked questions about Copper