
- Name: Copper
- Symbol: Cu
- Atomic Number: 29
- Atomic Weight: 63.546 u
- Period: 4
- Group: 11
27 Copper Facts for Kids
- Copper is a chemical element on the periodic table.
- Copper was discovered in the Middle East around 9000 BC.
- The discovery of copper by ancient human civilizations started the Copper Age.
- The color of pure cooper is a pinkish-orange.
- Copper is a soft metal that is malleable.
- Copper is a solid at room temperature.
- The symbol for copper is Cu.
- The atomic number for copper is 29.
- The standard atomic weight for copper is 63.546 u.
- Copper is in the transition metal element category on the periodic table.
- Copper is a period 4 chemical element, which is the fourth row on the periodic table.
- Copper is a group 11 chemical element, which is the copper group.
- Copper has two stable isotopes.
- The two stable copper isotopes are 63Cu and 65Cu.
- Copper has 27 radioisotopes and the most stable radioisotope is 67Cu.
- The melting point for copper is 1,984.32 °F (1,084.62 °C).
- The boiling point for copper is 4,643 °F (2,562 °C).
- In 2017, Chile was the leading producer of copper with over 5.5 million tons.
- The largest copper mine in the world is the Escondida copper mine in Chile.
- Humans have been mining copper for about 10,000 years, but over 95% of all the copper that has been mined and smelted was recovered after 1900.
- Peak copper is the moment when the production rate of copper peaks and cannot increase.
- All living organisms need traces of copper in their diet.
- The average adult human has between 1.4 and 2.1 milligrams of copper per 2.2 pounds of body weight.
- Copper is the standard metal used in electrical wiring, due to its excellent electrical conductivity.
- Copper is the standard metal used in water line supply lines, due to its superior corrosion resistance.
- Copper is used in cookware and conducts heat five times better than iron and twenty times better than stainless steel.
- Copper can be recycled repeatedly; it’s estimated that about 80% of the copper ever mined is still available.
- There are quite a few copper alloys that have antimicrobial properties.
Additional Resources on the Chemical Element Copper
- About Copper – Discover more uses for copper on the Copper Alliance website.
- Copper – Cu – Learn more about the chemical element copper on the Royal Society of Chemistry website.
- Copper Element Facts – Read more copper facts and information on the Chemicool website.
- Copper – Wikipedia – Explore the uses and history of copper on the Wikipedia website.