Hayden Alford
CH-396X-01
1/25/15
Help Received: See References
Copper
Copper, man’s oldest metal, has had an incredible impact on mankind since its discovery dating back nearly ten
thousand years ago. Copper has a wide variety of uses that have become incorporated into different cultures all over the
world. This element has several interesting chemical properties that have made it such a useful metal to so many
civilizations. With such a long history, the story of the applications of copper has evolved over time resulting in a
fascinating journey that demonstrates how it has influenced man over thousands of years.
What is copper? Copper, a chemical element with the abbreviation Cu, has an atomic number of twenty nine
meaning that one atom of copper has twenty nine protons.(3) Its molar mass is 63.456 grams per mole, and its density is
8.96 grams per centimeter cubed.(3) Additional properties of copper are its boiling point and melting point, which are
2560 degrees Celsius and 1084.62 degrees Celsius, respectively.(3) Copper is a reddish-gold metal that is easily
malleable. In addition to its malleability, copper is also an excellent conductor of electricity. Among pure metals at room
temperature, copper has the second highest electrical and thermal conductivity just behind silver.(2) Because copper is a
cheaper conductor than silver, it is used much more frequently for wiring. Copper has an MSDS of two for health, one for
fire, and zero for reactivity. Copper can be hazardous to one’s health if ingested as well as an irritant to the skin and eyes.
Copper is not very flammable but could possibly be combustible at extremely high temperatures. In regards to copper’s
reactivity grade of zero, it is considered very stable. (7) The properties of copper previously mentioned contribute to the
reasons why it has had such an impact on society for thousands of years.
The discovery of copper dates back to prehistoric times, and it is not known the person responsible for its
discovery. A copper pendant that was discovered in what is now considered northern Iraq was dated back to 8,700 B.C.
and is considered to be one of the first uses of copper.(1) Although copper was to have been first used in the Middle East,
it was not isolated to that part of the world. Egyptian hieroglyphics dating back to approximately 4000 B.C. indicate that
copper was commonly used.(1) Although that there is not a lot know about how or who discovered copper, it is evident
that since its discovery that copper has spread throughout civilizations around the world.
Copper is found in several parts of the world. In the United States, it is found in Montana, Michigan, Arizona,
Nevada, and New Mexico.(6) On a global scale, copper can be found in South America in the countries of Chile and Peru.
Also, copper can be found in Canada as well as the Ural Mountains of Russia. Chile is the world’s leading producer of
copper. In 2013, Chile mined 5.7 million tons of copper.(6) The United States was fourth in copper production mining
only 1.22 million tons.(6) China and Peru are second and third in copper production. (6) Copper is typically mined as ore.
The ore is then put through a series of processes to refine and purify the copper. One way to extract the metal was to roast
the sulfide ore then leach out the copper sulfate that was formed with water.(3) Mineable deposits of copper by itself are
rare to find, but do exist. Such mines where copper can be harvested without having to be processed are considered very
valuable.
Once copper has been purified, it is ready for a wide array of applications. Copper, because it has been around for
so long, has evolved in the manners in how it is used. In the beginning, copper was used to make tools and weapons but
has grown into a metal used in nearly all aspects every day life.(1) Copper is often used to make various alloys. Bronze is
formed from the combination of copper and tin. Traditionally, copper has been one of the metals used to make coins, in
addition to silver and gold.(3) Copper is the most common of the three and, as a result, is the least valued. All coins in the
United States are copper alloys.(3) Gun metals also contain copper. Bronze has been used for centuries for sculpting to
make works of art. From an architectural standpoint, copper is commonly used by the construction industry for cladding,
roofing, and plumbing because it is waterproof and is not easily oxidized so it can be used for long periods of time.(4)
Arguably the most important use of copper is for electricity. Over half of the copper produced each year is used for
electrical purposes.(4) Copper can be found in the wiring of nearly all electronic devices from televisions to mobile
phones to transformers. Copper also plays an important role in biological systems. Copper serves as an enzyme cofactor in
organisms meaning that it regulates certain processes within an organism.(4) The uses of copper with its ability to form
numerous alloys in conjunction with its role in electricity, construction, and biology make it important to people around
the world.
The strategic importance of copper lies with its impact on the economy. Copper is essential to many industries,
such as power generation, electronics, aerospace, food processing, construction, automotive and healthcare. The United
States imports over 750,000 tons of copper each year.(8) With an increase in global demand for copper as result of
countries becoming more developed, the demand for copper in the global community is increasing from year to year.
Because the United States is dependent on outside sources for copper, the increasing global demand for copper influences
the economy. In 1994, the price of copper was less than one dollar per pound.(5) Currently, the price of copper is $2.54
per pound.(5) In the last twenty years, the price of copper has risen over 150 percent. As a result in copper becoming more
expensive, all industries copper is used in essentially become more expensive. As long as the supply of copper can meet
the global demand for it, society should continue to develop and advance as it is now. However, their could be day where
the United States may not be able to obtain all the copper needed to continue progressing at the current pace in particular
fields of industry resulting a slower advancement of the American people.
Copper has been a key driving force behind the advancement of civilizations around the world, and its
contributions continue to grow today. Copper has effectively contributed to the improvement of quality of life for
thousands of years. From its use in the Stone Age to its large number of uses in today’s modern society, copper has
positively benefited mankind. The unique properties of copper along with its relative abundance throughout the world
have made this metal a facilitator of the growth and development of numerous civilizations around the world. Copper’s
versatile nature has allowed for it to play a role in many different sectors of industry. In summation, an element
discovered ten thousand years ago has evolved and diversified in the ways in which it is used, and continues to affect the
development of modern society today for the good of mankind. It is safe to say that without a metal such as copper than
can be so easily manipulated for a wide range of uses, the development of society would not have progressed to the point
where it is today.
References:
1. http://copperalliance.org/history-of-copper/ accessed 25 Jan, 2015.
2. http://chemwiki.ucdavis.edu/Inorganic_Chemistry/Descriptive_Chemistry/dBlock_Elements/Group_11%3A_Transition_Metals/The_Chemistry_of_Copper accessed 25 Jan, 2015.
3. http://www.rsc.org/periodic-table/element/29/copper accessed 25 Jan, 2015.
4. http://www.usesof.net/uses-of-copper.html accessed 25 Jan, 2015.
5. http://www.infomine.com/investment/metal-prices/copper/all/ accessed 25 Jan, 2015.
6. http://copperinvestingnews.com/19705-2013-top-10-copper-producing-countries.html accessed 25 Jan, 2015.
7. http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9923549 accessed 25 Jan, 2015.
8. http://www.twin-metals.com/learn-about-mining/strategic-metals-mining/ accessed 25 Jan, 2015