Transcript Copper

By Ashleigh Bareham
History of copper
Copper is one of the oldest metals of
mankind. It’s history traces back over
10,000 years.
It was mined mainly in Cyprus in the
Mediterranean in the Ancient times.
The Bronze age was named after the well
known copper alloy.
Copper was the first metal to be mined and
crafted by man. It was used for tools,
weapons, art objects and ornaments.
History of Copper
Copper was associated with the goddess
Aphrodite/Venus due to it’s beauty, ancient
use in producing mirrors and its association
with Cyprus which was sacred to the
goddess.
Copper was used as early as
7000BC to make weapons and
5000BC to make jewellery and
ornaments due to it’s colour.
Properties of Copper
Copper is a reddish coloured metallic
metal.
It is the only other metal apart from gold
that has a distinctive natural colour.
It has a high electrical and thermal
conductivity. The only pure metal to have
higher electrical conductivity is silver.
It’s atomic number is 29.
Properties of Copper
Copper has a charge of 2+ and
belongs to the transition metals.
It is ductile.
It is easily mixed with other metals to
form alloys such as bronze (copper
and tin) and brass (copper and zinc).
It is one of the few metals to occur
naturally as an uncompounded
mineral.
Extraction of Copper
Copper is extracted from Copper sulphide
via heat. This is the most traditional
method of extraction. This method of
thermal decomposition uses a lot of energy
and releases toxic sulphur dioxide into the
air.
heat
Copper (II) sulphide
copper + sulphur
dioxide
CuS(s)
Cu(s)
+
SO2(g)
Pure copper is extracted via electrolysis.
When electricity is passed through the cell
copper is dissolved at the anode by
oxidation, Cu2+ ions go into the solution. At
the cathode, copper is deposited by
reduction. As copper ions move from the
anode to the cathode the anode gets
smaller as the cathode gets bigger.
This is called a redox reaction.
Uses of Copper
Copper is very uncorrosive so doesn’t
rust easily. However, when it does
rust, copper turns a blue-green colour.
The statue of liberty is made out of
copper.
Copper is also used for
water pipes due to the
fact that it doesn’t corrode
easily.
Uses of Copper
Copper is also used in currency. In
1908 – 1992, the American penny
was 95% copper.
It is also used in computer chips,
integrated circuit boards and printed
circuit boards.
Uses of Copper
The two radioactive isotopes of
copper are used in health care.
Copper-64 is used to study brain
function.
Copper-67 is used in cancer
treatment by injecting the isotopes
into the patient. They then give off
radiation that can kill the cancer cells.