Copper
Copper (铜, symbol Cu) is chemical element number 29, a Transition Metal in period 4, group 11 of the periodic table, with a standard atomic weight of about 63.546. Highly conductive, ductile metal with a distinctive reddish-orange color. Foundation of electrical wiring.
Properties
| Atomic number | 29 |
|---|---|
| Symbol | Cu |
| Atomic mass | 63.546 u |
| Category | Transition Metal |
| Period | 4 |
| Group | 11 |
| Electron configuration | [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹ |
| Electronegativity | 1.9 |
| Covalent radius | 132 pm |
| Density | 8.96 g/cm³ |
| Melting point | 1357.77 K |
| Boiling point | 2835 K |
| Discovery | Known since antiquity |
Overview
Highly conductive, ductile metal with a distinctive reddish-orange color. Foundation of electrical wiring. Element 29, Copper (Cu), is a Transition Metal found in period 4, group 11. As a transition metal it commonly shows several oxidation states, forms coloured compounds, and is widely used in catalysts and alloys.
Its electron configuration is [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹, with 1 electron in the outer shell, and an electronegativity of about 1.9 (Pauling). Around 25 °C it is usually a solid; it melts near 1357.77 K (1084.6 °C), boils near 2835 K (2561.9 °C), has a density around 8.96 g/cm³.
In industry and daily life it turns up in Electronics / Semiconductors, Structural / Alloys and Medical / Pharma. Compounds featured on this site include CuSO₄. It has been known since antiquity. The periodic trends guide explains the underlying patterns.
Electron shells
Electrons per shell: 2 · 8 · 18 · 1
Main uses
- Electronics / Semiconductors
- Structural / Alloys
- Medical / Pharma
Hazard
Compounds containing Copper
Data sources
Atomic mass uses IUPAC (CIAAW) standard atomic weights; the covalent radius is from Cordero et al. (2008). Verify on the RSC Periodic Table, PubChem and Wikipedia. Educational reference only.