Uses of Copper

Copper is a chemical element that is golden reddish in physical appearance. The term copper has been derived from the Latin word cuprum. It belongs to group 11 and period 4 in the modern periodic table. It is a d-block element. It has an atomic number of 29 while an atomic mass of 63.54u. This metal has a red-orange metallic lustre.

Copper is one of the rare metals that can appear in nature in a directly functional metallic form that does not require any purification.

Copper does not react with water. However, it slowly reacts with atmospheric oxygen to form a surface layer of copper oxide which is brownish-black in colour. Copper is one of the metals that has a large number of isotopes, among which Cu₆₃ and Cu₆₅ are the most stable. Copper is present in a ratio of 50ppm in the Earth’s crust.

In nature, the element copper occurs in a variety of minerals such as copper sulphides that include digenite, covellite, chalcopyrite, etc. Copper carbonate is present in malachite, azurite, etc. Copper is excessively found in native structure and origin as well. It is considered one of the purest metals and is easily available in nature.

Properties of copper

Copper is a metal that is essential in our everyday life. This is because it comprises several properties which increase its significance. Copper has high ductility, which means it can be drawn into thin wires. It has high malleability, which means it can be beaten into thin sheets. Copper is an outstanding conductor of heat and electricity. Along with aluminium, copper is also highly resistant to corrosion. It is also a good source of thermal conductivity.

Various uses of copper

Based on its specific properties and characteristics, the metal copper has several uses in our daily life as well as in jewellery production. All the above described properties make copper a highly valuable and economical metal. The most common uses of the metal copper are given below:

• Copper is widely used in the electrical industry for the manufacturing of electrical equipment such as wiring and motors.

• Copper is one of the main components in the building and construction industry for the manufacturing of plumbing materials, doorknobs, handles, and the stability of roofing.

• Coins also consist of a high proportion of copper and its alloys.

• Copper is a metal that has excessive use in the life of organisms. As it is a good source of nutrition, it is used in folk medicine, bacteriostatic agents, antimicrobial agents, and fungicides.

• Due to its high thermal conductivity, copper is used in the production of solar panels and turbines.

• It also has several applications in jewellery formation, decorative art, kitchen utensils, sinks, lamps, etc.

Copper used in printed circuit boards

One of the major uses of copper is in the electrical industry. Since copper is an excellent conductor of electricity, it is widely used in the manufacturing of electrical wires and printed circuit boards. Thin wire of copper is sufficient for the transmission of electricity. As copper is resistant to corrosion, it is used in the production of printed circuit boards globally. It increases the flow of electricity as well as looks shiny due to its lustrous appearance.

Copper used in the production of solar panels and turbines

Copper is easily produced because it is present in the Earth’s crust. Due to the easy availability of copper, it is frequently used in the production of solar panels and wind turbines. The easy availability of copper is not the only reason for its use. Its excellent thermal conductivity makes it perfect for use in solar panels.

Applications in plumbing and roofing materials

As we discussed earlier, copper does not react with water, so it is used for water pipes. Due to corrosion resistance, copper is highly beneficial in underground applications and other types of roofing materials. It provides stability to the roof as it is less likely to be affected by rainfall.

Conclusion

Copper is a chemical element that is golden reddish in physical appearance. It belongs to group 11 and period 4 in the modern periodic table. It is a d-block element. It has an atomic number of 29 while an atomic mass of 63.54u. It has properties like malleability and ductility and is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It is resistant to corrosion. Copper has several uses in everyday items, industrial use, and jewellery production.