About III millennium BC is considered transitional from stone as the main industrial substance to bronze. The period of perestroika is considered to be the copper age. After all, it was this compound for that period of time that was the most important in construction, in the manufacture of household items, utensils and other processes.
To date, copper has not lost its relevance and is still considered a very important metal, often used for various needs. Is copper a body or a substance? What properties does it have and what is it for? Let's try to figure it out further.
General characteristics of the element copper
As a chemical element, copper has its location in the periodic system. It is as follows.
- The fourth big period, the first row.
- The first group, a subgroup.
- Sequence number 29.
- Atomic weight - 63.546.
- The electronic configuration of the outer layer is expressed by the formula 3d 10 4s 1 .
The element has two stable natural isotopes with mass numbers 63 and 65. The Latin name for the element is cuprum, which explains its chemical symbol Cu. In the formulas it is read as "cuprum", the Russian name is copper.
Is copper a body or a substance?
To answer this question, you should first decide on the concepts of "substance" and "body". They are studied at the school levels, as they are fundamental. From the point of view of the science of chemistry and physics, a substance is considered to be all the materials from which certain objects are made. That is, all chemical compounds of both organic and inorganic nature can serve as examples of substances.
The body is the object itself, which consists of just some kind of substance. They can be artificially constructed by humans, or they can be of natural origin. Examples of bodies: nails, windows, plates, a table, a cabinet, a flower pot, and more.
To distinguish between these two concepts, we give several comparative examples.
- Sugar is a substance, lollipop is a body.
- Iron is a substance, nail is a body.
- A window is a body, glass is a substance.
It is obvious from these arguments that the question: "Is copper a body or a substance?" - the answer is clear. This is the substance. Now, if we are talking about a copper plate or a copper ring, then, of course, we should talk about them as a body.
From the point of view of chemistry, copper is a substance belonging to the category of metals. It has a number of very valuable properties that underlie the widespread use of this compound.
The simple substance of copper is non-ferrous metal.
As we have already indicated, copper is metal. However, not all representatives of this group of substances are identical in their characteristics. There are soft and hard, white and yellow, red metals and more. Copper belongs to non-ferrous soft metals.
The electronic structure of its atom allows you to accurately determine whether copper is a metal or non-metal. Indeed, at the external level she has only one electron, which means that she is able to easily give it away, exhibiting typical metallic reducing properties. Therefore, there can be no doubt that it should belong to the category of metals. This is also indicated by the physical properties of its simple substance.
Physical properties
Is copper a substance or a body? You can fully verify the correctness of the answer only by considering its physical properties. If we talk about this element as a simple substance, then it is characterized by the following set of properties.
- The metal is red.
- Soft and very malleable.
- Excellent heat conductor and electrical conductor.
- Not refractory, melting point is 1084.5 0 C.
- The density is 8.9 g / cm 3 .
- In nature, it is found mainly in a native form.
Thus, it turns out that copper is a substance, moreover, known from antiquity. Since ancient times, many architectural structures have been created on its basis, tableware and household items are made.
Chemical properties
In terms of chemical activity, copper is a body or substance that has a low ability to interact. There are two main oxidation states of this element, which it manifests in compounds. It:
It is very rare to find substances in which these values are replaced by +3.
So, copper can interact with:
- by air;
- carbon dioxide;
- hydrochloric acid and some other compounds only at very high temperatures.
All this is explained by the fact that a protective oxide film is formed on the metal surface. It protects it from further oxidation and gives stability and low activity.
Of the simple substances, copper is able to interact with:
- halogens;
- selenium;
- cyanides;
- gray.
Often forms complex compounds or double salts. Almost all complex compounds of this element, except for oxides, are toxic substances. Those molecules that form monovalent copper are easily oxidized to bivalent representatives.
Areas of use
Copper is a mixture or pure substance, which in any of these conditions is widely used in industry and everyday life. There are several main industries for the use of copper and pure metal compounds.
- Leather industry, which uses some salts.
- Production of fur and silk.
- Production of fertilizers, plant protection products against pests (vitriol).
- Copper alloys are widely used in the automotive industry.
- Shipbuilding, aircraft construction.
- Electrical engineering in which copper is used due to its good corrosion resistance and high electrical and thermal conductivity.
- Various instrumentation.
- Making dishes and household items of economic importance.
It is obvious that despite many hundreds of years, the metal in question only strengthened its position and proved its viability and indispensability in application.
Copper alloys and their properties
There are many copper based alloys. She herself is distinguished by high technical characteristics, as it is easily amenable to forging and rolling, it is light and quite durable. However, when certain components are added, the properties are significantly improved.
In this case, the question should be asked: "Is copper a substance or a physical body when it comes to its alloys?" The answer will be: this is a substance. All the same, it is precisely them until some physical body, that is, a specific product, is made of the alloy.
What copper alloys are there?
- A practically equal combination of copper and zinc in one composition is commonly called brass. This alloy is characterized by high strength and resistance to chemical influences.
- Tin bronze is a combination of copper and tin.
- Cupronickel - nickel and copper in a ratio of 20/80 out of 100. Used to make jewelry.
- Constantan is a combination of nickel, copper and an addition of manganese.
Biological significance
Not so important, copper is a substance or a body. Significantly different. What role does copper play in the life of living organisms? It turns out to be very important. So, the ions of the metal in question perform the following functions.
- Participate in the conversion of iron ions to hemoglobin.
- They are active participants in the processes of growth and reproduction.
- They allow tyrosine to be absorbed by the amino acid, and therefore affect the manifestation of hair color and skin.
If the body does not receive this element in the right amount, then unpleasant diseases can occur. For example, anemia, baldness, painful thinness and so on.