Copper

Copper’s story is one of discovery and invention. Thousands of years ago, around 9000 BCE, early humans stumbled upon a shiny, reddish-brown metal. They quickly realized that the metal was easy to shape, allowing them to make tools and jewelry. As one of the first metals that humans ever worked with, copper sparked curiosity about how metals could be used in everyday life.

As civilizations advanced, so did their understanding and use of copper. People figured out how to melt copper ore and cast it into different shapes—a process called smelting. By combining copper with tin, they created bronze, a stronger alloy that marked the beginning of the Bronze Age, where tools and weapons became more durable. This scientific breakthrough in alloy-making transformed societies and set the stage for more exciting innovation.

One of the coolest developments in copper’s journey happened in ancient Egypt, when scientists developed Egyptian Blue, the first synthetic pigment. This brilliant blue color, derived from copper, was used to decorate tombs, temples, and statues. Copper’s role expanded beyond practicality, sparking creativity and artistic expression. No longer limited to tools and weapons that advanced work and warfare, copper became a medium for fostering art and culture.

In more modern times, copper continues to play a huge role in science and technology. During the Industrial Revolution, copper became essential for conducting electricity, leading to the rise of telegraphs, motors, and eventually the electronics we use every day. Today, researchers are still discovering new uses for copper—from next generation energy systems to medical technology. It’s amazing that such an ancient metal is still helping us push the limits of science and innovation!

Copper is a reddish metal with a bright metallic luster. It is easy to bend, and a good conductor of heat and electricity (second only to silver in electrical conductivity).

Copper is used mostly in its metal form. About 60% of the copper produced is used for electrical wiring and cable. Copper is an excellent material for wiring because of its electrical conductivity (helps current flow), ductility (shape can change easily), corrosion resistance (won’t break down), low thermal expansion (shape doesn’t change with heat), and tensile strength (won’t break under tension).

In your lifetime, copper is likely to support you in many ways—from your smartphone and home plumbing to the wiring in your solar panels, your electric toothbrush, pots and pans, spare coins, television, and electric car. If you own a musical instrument, have a dental filling, or go for an ultrasound, you can thank copper. It’s even likely you’ll rest in it after burial (a coffin) or cremation (an urn).

Copper has wide use as an agricultural poison and can kill algae for water purification. Copper compounds, such as Fehling's solution, are widely used in analytical chemistry tests for sugar.

Copper is an essential element for the human body. We need around 1.2 milligrams of copper a day, to help enzymes transfer energy in cells. But, like Paracelsus said, "dose makes the poison" and too much copper can hurt us.

Common copper compounds include copper acetate, cuprous oxide, cupric oxide, cupric chloride, copper oxychloride, cuprous chloride, cupric nitrate, copper cyanide, and copper naphthenate.

Copper occasionally occurs natively, and is found in many minerals such as cuprite, malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite, and bornite. Large copper ore deposits are found in the US, Chile, Zambia, Zaire, Peru, and Canada. The most important copper ores are the sulfides, oxides, and carbonates. From these, copper is obtained by smelting (heating and melting), leaching (draining from), and by electrolysis (passing electric current through it).