Copper (Cu) – Periodic Table [Element Information & More]

Copper element (Cu) is in group 11 and period 4 of a periodic table. Copper is in the d-block and it is classified as a transition element on the periodic table.

There is a lot more information related to copper which is mentioned in the Information Table given below.

So let’s dive right into it!

Table of contents

• Copper element (Information Table)
• Copper element in Periodic table
• Facts about Copper
• Properties of Copper
• Uses of Copper

Copper Element (Information Table)

The important data related to copper element is given in the table below.

Appearance of copper	Reddish orange metallic luster
Atomic number of copper	29
Symbol of copper	Cu
Atomic mass of copper	63.546 u
Protons, Neutrons & Electrons in copper	Protons: 29, Neutrons: 35, Electrons: 29
State of copper (at STP)	Solid
Group number of copper in periodic table	11
Period number of copper in periodic table	4
Block of copper in periodic table	d-block
Category of copper	Transition metal
Bohr model or Electrons per shell or Electrons arrangement in copper	2, 8, 18, 1
Electron configuration of copper	[Ar] 3d10 4s1
Orbital diagram of copper
Electronegativity of copper (on pauling scale)	1.9
Atomic radius of copper (van der Waals radius)	140 picometers
Density of copper	8.96 g/cm3
1st ionization energy of copper	7.726 eV
Main isotopes of copper	63Cu (69.1%) and 65Cu (30.8%)
Melting point of copper	1357.7 K or 1084.6 °C or 1984.3 °F
Boiling point of copper	2835 K or 2562 °C or 4643 °F
Crystal structure of copper	Face Centered Cubic (FCC)

Also see: Interactive Periodic Table (It has rotating bohr models as well as many other details of all the 118 elements in a single periodic table).

Copper element in Periodic table

The Copper element (Cu) has the atomic number 29 and is located in group 11 and period 4. Copper is a metal and it is classified as a transition element.

Click on above elements in the periodic table to see their information.

Facts about copper

Here are a few interesting facts about copper element.

1. Copper was given its name from the Latin word “cuprum”.
2. The earth’s crust has the copper in the concentration of 50 ppm.
3. Igneous rocks contain a lot of copper and around 2/3^rd of the copper is obtained from the igneous rocks.
4. Most of the copper is used in manufacturing of electrical wires and other electrical transmission systems.
5. Copper is the 3^rd most used metal in the industries. (The first is iron and second is aluminum).
6. Copper ranks 2^nd in terms of electrical conductivity as well as thermal conductivity. (The 1^st is silver which has the best thermal and electrical conductivity).
7. Copper is the only metal that is in reddish-orange color.
8. Copper is easily recyclable and it can be used again and again.

Properties of copper

Here is a list of some physical properties and chemical properties of copper.

Physical properties of copper

• Copper is a metal having a reddish-orange lustrous appearance.
• Copper is a good conductor of heat as well as electricity.
• Copper is highly ductile metal and it can easily be drawn into thin wire.
• The copper has an atomic mass 63.546 u and its density is 8.96 g/cm³.
• ⁶³Cu is the most abundant naturally occurring isotope of copper. It has an abundance of around 69%.
• The melting point and boiling point of copper is 1357.7 K and 2835 K respectively.

Chemical properties of copper

• Copper has an electron configuration: [Ar] 3d¹⁰ 4s¹; and the electronic configuration of its most common oxidation state Cu²⁺ is: [Ar] 3d⁹ 4s⁰. This indicates that the copper is a transition element.
• Copper present in the sample gives a greenish color in the flame test.
• Copper reacts slowly with the oxygen of the air and this forms a greenish layer on the copper.

Uses of copper

Here are some uses of the copper element.

• Copper is used as an alloying metal with other metals to get the improved properties. Bronze and brass are the most common alloys of copper.
• The ship hulls are also made up of brass, which prevents the growth of algae on it.
• Copper is also used in cookwares, coin manufacturing as well as in plumbing pipes.
• Copper is present in almost all the electronics devices like radio, TV, mobile phones, laptops, etc.
• Copper is a natural antibacterial agent. Because of this reason the brass (which is an alloy of copper) is used in door handles of public buildings. This helps in preventing disease transmission.
• Copper is also used in earthing of buildings to protect the building from lightning.

External resources:

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