Copper as an element and mineral
- Copper is a chemical element of the so-called transition metals.
- Copper leads the group of noble metals: copper, silver and gold.
- Copper atoms have 29 protons and 29 electrons.
- Copper has two stable natural isotopes: one has 34 neutrons and the other 36.
- Copper is not radioactive.
- There are only two attractive coloured metals: gold and copper.
- Copper can not be magnetised.
- Copper is a familiar metal, but it is not abundant in nature.
- Copper ranks 25 in the order of abundance of the 92 natural chemical elements.
- There are more than five hundred species of copper ore.
- After native copper, cuprite is the ore to contain most copper: 88.82%.
- Copper has a great ability to form alloys.
- Copper has been adopted as the standard for electrical conductivity.
- About 80% of the copper produced by mankind is still useful, thanks to its recycling capacity.