Properties of Copper? what are they PLease explain the properties of Copper! x I REALLY NEED HELP
Physical properties: Copper is a metal with a distinct reddish or orange tint, with a metallic luster. The cubic crystalline structure is face-centered, and reflects only red and orange colored light from the visible spectrum, giving it the familiar reddish hue. Compared to adjacent metals in the periodic table, copper is harder than zinc but softer than iron. The metal is malleable, meaning that it can be elongated with pressure and molded into different shapes. Copper is also ductile, which enables it to change form and be stretched into long thin structures without breaking. These properties, along with its ability to conduct electricity extremely well, make copper suitable for use in electrical cable manufacturing, where these physical attributes are particularly desirable. Chemical properties: The atomic number of copper used in wires is 29, meaning it has 29 protons. Copper's symbol is Cu, and its atomic weight is 63.54. Copper is placed in column 1B in the periodic table, along with silver and gold, whose symbols are Ag and Au, respectively. Copper has a Moh's hardness (a system of measurement to evaluate the hardness of metals) of between 2.5 and 3. Copper used in manufacturing wires has a very high specific gravity of 8.2, which is much higher than other substances of industrial interest, such as water (1.0), carbon (2.2) and sulfur (2.1). The specific densities of silver and gold are both higher than copper, at 10.5 and 19, respectively. Copper wires have low chemical reactivity; in reaction with other elements, laboratory copper has a charge of +1, known as cuprous or +2, known as cupric. Corrosion: Copper in electrical wires is resistant to corrosion. When exposed to damp air, the substance changes color from reddish orange to reddish brown. In time, a fine greenish film, known as patina, coats the surface of the metal, protecting it from degradation through corrosion.
