Copper (Cu)
An orange-brown metal inside electric wires.
Copper facts
- Symbol
- Cu
- Atomic number
- 29
- Atomic mass
- 63.546
- Family
- Transition metals
- Period
- 4
- Group
- 11
Famous reactions with copper
- Colour change! Copper and OxygenCopper(II) oxide 2Cu + O₂ → 2CuO · When heated · Try it
- Shiny brass! Copper meets ZincBrass (an alloy) · When melted together · Try it
- The Bronze Age! Copper meets TinBronze (an alloy) · When melted together · Try it
What does copper react with?
Copper makes a new substance with 9 other elements and chemicals in our lab:
- Copper + FluorineCopper(II) fluoride Cu + F₂ → CuF₂ · At room temperature · Try it
- Copper + PhosphorusCopper phosphide 3Cu + P → Cu₃P · When heated · Try it
- Copper + SulfurCopper(I) sulfide 2Cu + S → Cu₂S · When heated · Try it
- Copper + ChlorineCopper(II) chloride Cu + Cl₂ → CuCl₂ · When heated · Try it
- Copper + ArsenicCopper arsenide 3Cu + As → Cu₃As · When heated · Try it
- Copper + SeleniumCopper(I) selenide 2Cu + Se → Cu₂Se · When heated · Try it
- Copper + BromineCopper(II) bromide Cu + Br₂ → CuBr₂ · When heated · Try it
- Copper + TelluriumCopper(I) telluride 2Cu + Te → Cu₂Te · When heated · Try it
- Copper + IodineCopper(I) iodide 2Cu + I₂ → 2CuI · When heated · Try it
It also blends into a mixture, like an alloy, with 72 other metals when melted together.
Nothing happens when it's simply mixed with 14 of the others. 21 pairings have never been tried, because not enough atoms have ever existed.