Cu
Copper
Element 29 · Transition metal
Copper (Cu)
Copper is a soft, reddish-orange metal and an excellent conductor of heat and electricity. It was one of the first metals humans used.
- Transition metal
- Period 4
- Group 11
- d-block
- solid at room temperature
Key properties
- Atomic mass
- 63.55
- u
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 3d10 4s1
- Melting point
- 1,084.6 °C
- 1,357.77 K
- Boiling point
- 2,561.9 °C
- 2,835 K
- Density
- 8.933 g/cm³
- Electronegativity
- 1.9
- Pauling
- Atomic radius
- 140 pm
- van der Waals
- 1st ionisation energy
- 7.726 eV
Compare with every element:Electronegativity chartAtomic radius chartIonisation energy chartDensity chart of the elementsMelting point chartElectron configuration chart
Did you know?
Notable facts about copper
- 01
Copper and tin together made bronze, which gave its name to the Bronze Age.
- 02
The Statue of Liberty is copper; its green colour is a patina of copper carbonate.
- 03
Copper surfaces kill many bacteria and viruses within hours.
Applications
What is copper used for?
- Electrical wiring
- Plumbing pipes
- Motors and electronics
- Coins and alloys (brass, bronze)
History
Discovery & name origin
Discovered by
Known since antiquity
Year
c. 9000 BCE
Where
Known since antiquity
Name origin
Latin cuprum, from Cyprus, the ancient source of copper.
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
Atomic structure
Atomic properties
- Atomic number
- 29
- Atomic mass
- 63.55 u
- Group
- 11
- Period
- 4
- Block
- d-block
- Electron configuration
- [Ar] 3d10 4s1
- Full configuration
- 1s2 2s2 2p6 3s2 3p6 4s1 3d10
- Electrons per shell
- 2, 8, 18, 1
- Electronegativity (Pauling)
- 1.9
- Electron affinity
- 1.228 eV
- Atomic radius (van der Waals)
- 140 pm
- Stable isotopes
- 2
Oxidation states
Highlighted: common oxidation states (+2, +1).
Successive ionisation energies
Energy to remove each electron in turn (kJ/mol). Big jumps show where a new, inner shell begins.
- 1st745.5
- 2nd1,957.9
- 3rd3,555
- 4th5,536
- 5th7,700
- 6th9,900
- 7th13,400
- 8th16,000
Physical
Physical properties & colour
Physical
Physical properties & colour
- State at 20 °C
- Solid
- Melting point
- 1,357.77 K · 1,084.6 °C · 1,984.3 °F
- Boiling point
- 2,835 K · 2,561.9 °C · 4,643.3 °F
- Density
- 8.933 g/cm³
- Molar heat capacity
- 24.44 J/(mol·K)
- Appearance
- Red-orange metallic lustre
- CPK model colour
- Copied
The CPK colour is the convention used for this element’s atoms in molecular models.
FAQ
Copper questions
What is Cu on the periodic table?
Cu is the symbol for copper, element 29 on the periodic table. It sits in group 11, period 4, in the transition metal category, and has an atomic mass of 63.55.
What is the atomic number of copper?
Copper has atomic number 29, so every copper atom has 29 protons in its nucleus. Its symbol is Cu and its atomic mass is 63.55.
Who discovered copper?
Copper has been known since antiquity (c. 9000 BCE); no single discoverer is credited. The name comes from Latin cuprum, from Cyprus, the ancient source of copper.
What is copper used for?
Copper is used for: electrical wiring; plumbing pipes; motors and electronics; coins and alloys (brass, bronze).
Is copper a metal?
Yes. Copper is a transition metal, one of the metallic elements.
What is the electron configuration of copper?
The electron configuration of copper is [Ar] 3d10 4s1. Its 29 electrons are arranged in shells as 2, 8, 18, 1.