Copper Facts
Chemical Symbol Cu
Atomic number 29
Atomic weight 63.546
Solid
Red-orange colored metal
Has no smell or taste
The name copper comes from the Latin word "cuprum", meaning metal of Cyprus.
Copper is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity.
Pure copper is soft and malleable; a freshly exposed surface has a reddish-orange color.
It is constituent of various metal alloys.
Brass is an alloy of copper with 5-40% zinc.
Bronze is an alloy of copper with tin.
Copper is a scarce metal and is present in the Earth's crust at a concentration of about 50 parts per million (ppm).
Copper is essential to all living organisms as a trace dietary mineral.