Copper
Copper is a reddish-gold colored metal that is ductile, malleable, and an effective conductor of heat and electricity. Copper was the first metal to be worked with by humans and is among the most widely used metals today.Copper combines well with other metals to form widely used alloys such as brass and bronze. Copper is considered a base metal, as it oxidizes relatively easily. It has the symbol Cu and the atomic number of 29 on the periodic table. The name is derived from the Latin aes Cyprium, meaning ore from Cyprus. The discovery that copper could be alloyed with tin to form bronze gave rise to the Bronze Age. 1 Copper was used to make coins along with silver and gold. It is the most common of the three metals and so is the least valued. All U.S. coins are now copper alloys, and gun metals also contain copper. Most copper is used in electrical equipment such as wiring and motors. It also has uses in construction, for example in plumbing, and industrial machinery such as heat ...