What Are Some Interesting Facts About Copper?

Are you wondering what are some interesting facts about copper?  Here are two for you.  Copper pennies are actually only 2.6% copper and nickels are 75% copper.  Read on for more information about copper.  Until 1982, pennies were 95% copper but after that, they have been made of a zinc alloy that is coated with copper.  Dimes, quarters, and half dollars are 91.67% copper.

Here are some interesting facts about the history of copper. 

• The use of copper goes back at least 10,000 years, making it our oldest metal. 
• There was a recent discovery of a copper pendant in Iraq that dates back to 8700 BC. 
• Egyptians used the ankh symbol, which stands for eternal life, for copper in their hieroglyphs. 
• In the Egyptian Pyramid of Cheops, archaeologists found a water plumbing system that is at least 5000 years old and the copper piping in it is still usable.

Copper's Characteristics

Now we’ll look at some facts that are interesting about copper's characteristics:

• Copper’s abbreviation is CU for the Latin cuprum and its atomic number is 29. 
• Its electron structure is very similar to that of gold and silver. 
• Copper is soft and malleable, meaning it can be shaped or hammered easily, and is a reddish orange or brown color. 
• It is long lasting and is strong enough to be formed into wires. 
• It conducts heat and electricity better than any other metal except for silver and is a part of many metal alloys.
• It is so versatile that it has been called man’s eternal metal. 
• Sources of copper include chalcosite, chalcopyrite, cuprite, and azurite. 
• It does not react to water and in air, it makes copper oxide. 
• If it is alloyed with zinc, brass is formed. 
• If it is alloyed with tin, bronze is formed.           

Copper and the Statue of Liberty

Here is a very interesting fact about copper in the Statue of Liberty.  It contains 179,000 pounds of copper.  It stands up to harsh weather and winds from the ocean and is still beautiful and intact.

Copper in the Body           

Copper is essential in trace amounts in the human body to keep tissues, the heart, the immune system, and the nervous system healthy and to help the body use iron.  A deficiency of copper is rare and causes anemia, low bone density, and low numbers of white blood cells.  Excellent sources of copper are organ meats and shell fish.  Good sources are nuts, beans, legumes, seeds, whole grain cereals, mushrooms, and soy milk.   

Facts About the Uses of Copper

It is amazing how much copper is used in our daily lives.  These are really interesting facts about our usage of copper.

• In an average size house, there are 195 pounds of copper in building wire. An air conditioner has 52 pounds and a heat pump has 48 pounds of copper.  Dishwashers and refrigerators have around five pounds and a washer has 4.4 pounds.  A dryer has two pounds and a range has 1.3 pounds.

• One of the Dead Sea Scrolls was made of copper and has clues to a hidden treasure.
• Copper cookware is prized because of its uniform heating and high heat transfer.   
• Surgeons use scalpels with copper to conduct electricity that heats them to make them self-cauterizing.
• Copper is used on ships to protect the hull from barnacles and other sea creatures.
• Copper is antibacterial, so brass fixtures and fingerplates help prevent the spread of disease.
• Any tools that are made from copper or copper alloy will not spark so these are used in places where a spark would cause a fire or explosion.
• Copper is recyclable and does not lose any of its properties during the process.  Half of the copper used every year comes from recycled copper.

So, now you know lots of interesting facts about copper and the role it plays in our lives.