PRODUCT Properties
| Melting point: | 1083.4 °C (lit.) |
| Boiling point: | 2567 °C (lit.) |
| Density | 8.94 g/mL at 25 °C (lit.) |
| vapor pressure | 0Pa at 20℃ |
| Flash point: | -23 °C |
| storage temp. | 2-8°C |
| solubility | slightly soluble in dilute acid solutions |
| form | wire |
| color | Rust-brownish |
| Specific Gravity | 8.92 |
| Resistivity | 1.673 μΩ-cm, 20°C |
| Water Solubility | insoluble |
| Sensitive | air sensitive |
| Merck | 13,2545 |
| Exposure limits | TLV-TWA 1 mg(Cu)/m3 (dusts and mists)
(ACGIH and MSHA); 0.2 mg/m3 (fumes)
(ACGIH). |
| Stability: | Stable. Incompatible with strong acids, active halogen compounds, chlorine, fluorine, iodine, bromine, ammonia. May react explosively with strong oxidizing agents. |
| InChIKey | RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N |
Description and Uses
Copper has long been used by humans for a variety of reasons. The name copper derives from the Latin for the metal, cuprum, which is named for the Roman source, the island of Cyprus. Copper has been used in a variety of alloys; of particular importance among copper alloys is bronze, which comprised most of the tools and weapons of the age that bears its name. Brass, a copper–zinc alloy, is also highly used, for example, in brass musical instruments. Copper has also long been used as a building material, and owing to the metal’s malleability, as well as high thermal and electric conductivity, continues to find new uses. Copper and its compounds are naturally present in the earth’s crust. Natural discharges to air and water may be significant. Therefore, it is important to consider the background levels that are commonly found and distinguish these from high levels that may be found as a result of anthropogenic activity. Copper is emitted into the air naturally from windblown dust, volcanoes, and anthropogenic sources, the largest of which are being primary copper smelters and ore processing facilities. It is associated with particulate matter. The mean concentration of copper in the atmosphere is 5–200 ng m-3.
Copper is a metal that occurs naturally throughout the environment, in rocks, soil, water, and air. Copper is an essential element in plants and animals (including humans), which means it is necessary for us to live. Therefore, plants and animals must absorb some copper from eating, drinking, and breathing.
The use of copper dates back to prehistoric times. The metal, its compounds, and alloys have numerous applications in every sphere of life–making it one of the most important metals. Practically all coinages in the world are made out of copper or its alloys. Its alloys, bronze and brass, date from ancient times. More modern alloys such as monel, gun metals, and berylliumcopper also have wide applications. The metal is an excellent conductor of electricity and heat and is used in electric wiring, switches and electrodes. Other applications are in plumbing, piping, roofing, cooking utensils, construction materials, and electroplated protective coatings. Its compounds, namely the oxides, sulfates, and chlorides, have numerous of commercial applications.
Copper is distributed widely in nature as sulfides, oxides, arsenides, arsenosulfides, and carbonates. It occurs in the minerals cuprite, chalcopyrite, azurite, chalcocite, malachite and bornite. Most copper minerals are sulfides or oxides. Native copper contains the metal in uncombined form.The principal copper minerals with their chemical compositions and percentage of copper are listed below:
Safety
| Symbol(GHS) |   GHS02,GHS09 |
| Signal word | Danger |
| Hazard statements | H228-H410 |
| Precautionary statements | P210-P240-P241-P273-P280-P370+P378 |
| Hazard Codes | F,N,Xi,Xn |
| Risk Statements | 17-36/38-11-52/53-67-65-62-51/53-48/20-38-53-50/53-50-68/20/21/22-20/21/22 |
| Safety Statements | 5-26-16-61-62-36/37-60-36 |
| OEB | C |
| OEL | TWA: 1 mg/m3 [*Note: The REL also applies to other copper compounds (as Cu) except Copper fume.] |
| RIDADR | UN 3089 4.1/PG 2 |
| WGK Germany | 3 |
| RTECS | GL5325000 |
| F | 10 |
| TSCA | Yes |
| HazardClass | 4.1 |
| PackingGroup | III |
| HS Code | 74081100 |
| Toxicity | LD50 intraperitoneal in mouse: 3500ug/kg |
| IDLA | 100 mg Cu/m3 |
