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COPPER Chemical symbol: Cu Atomic number: 29 Although copper is toxic in high doses, it is also considered to be an essential element for all living organisms. It is part of several important enzymes, including those that help repair connective tissues, make melanin, and produce cellular energy. Many scientists and doctors have explored medicinal uses of copper and copper compounds. Unfortunately, copper's use as a drug for ulcers or cancer was largely unsuccessful. It can be used to prevent the growth of algae in water. There is evidence that humans have been using copper for at least 10,000 years. Copper itself can be relatively soft, so alloying it with tin to produce bronze lead to the Bronze Age and the manufacture of stronger swords and knives. Bronze was also used to make jewelry, cutlery, containers, and musical instruments such as bells. Today, the majority of the world's copper can be found in Chile, Indonesia, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Pure copper is used in electrical wiring and construction material such as pipes. It is also found in pots and kettles. Copper can be alloyed with zinc to make brass and with nickel to make cupronickel (which is often used to make low demonination coins). Copper is a metal with a distinctive orange-ish color. Although it usually has to be purified from an ore, copper can be found in the pure form in nature - the largest single peice of copper ever recovered was 420 tons! Copper compounds tend to be blue or green in color. In 1847, it was discovered that several different marine organisms, such as the octopus and the oyster, had blue blood. This is due to a copper-based compound that they have instead of the the iron-based (red colored) hemoglobin found in humans and most other animals. |
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