Is copper a metal, nonmetal or metalloid?
Quick Answer
Copper is a reddish metal with the chemical symbol of Cu. The word copper comes from the Latin “cuprum,” which means "metal from Cyprus." In ancient times, the island of Cyprus was a mining site for copper.
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Dating back to prehistoric times, copper was one of the earliest metals known to man. Likewise, for thousands of years, man also used the copper alloy bronze to make tools, jewelry, and weapons.
Copper is soft and ductile, and it has a high electrical conductivity. It also has a high melting point of 1084.62 degrees Celsius. Because of copper’s good thermal and electrical conductivity properties, one of its main uses is for electrical wiring. Alloys of copper, such as brass and bronze, also have important applications in construction and plumbing.
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