
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.
H | He | ||||||||||||||||
Li | Be | B | C | N | O | F | Ne | ||||||||||
Na | Mg | Al | Si | P | S | Cl | Ar | ||||||||||
K | Ca | Sc | Ti | V | Cr | Mn | Fe | Co | Ni | Cu | Zn | Ga | Ge | As | Se | Br | Kr |
Rb | Sr | Y | Zr | Nb | Mo | Tc | Ru | Rh | Pd | Ag | Cd | In | Sn | Sb | Te | I | Xe |
Cs | Ba | La* | Hf | Ta | W | Re | Os | Ir | Pt | Au | Hg | Tl | Pb | Bi | Po | At | Rn |
Fr | Ra | Ac** | Rf | Db | Sg | Bh | Hs | Mt | Ds | Rg | Cn | Nh | Fl | Mc | Lv | Ts | Og |
*Ce | Pr | Nd | Pm | Sm | Eu | Gd | Tb | Dy | Ho | Er | Tm | Yb | Lu | ||||
**Th | Pa | U | Np | Pu | Am | Cm | Bk | Cf | Es | Fm | Md | No | Lr |
Facts about copper
Here are a few interesting facts about copper element.
- Copper was given its name from the Latin word “cuprum”.
- The earth’s crust has the copper in the concentration of 50 ppm.
- Igneous rocks contain a lot of copper and around 2/3rd of the copper is obtained from the igneous rocks.
- Most of the copper is used in manufacturing of electrical wires and other electrical transmission systems.
- Copper is the 3rd most used metal in the industries. (The first is iron and second is aluminum).
- Copper ranks 2nd in terms of electrical conductivity as well as thermal conductivity. (The 1st is silver which has the best thermal and electrical conductivity).
- Copper is the only metal that is in reddish-orange color.
- 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.
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