Around III century BC is considered a transition from the stone as the main material for industrial bronze.The period of restructuring is considered to be the century of copper.After all, the compound at that time was the most important in the construction, in the manufacture of household items, glassware, and other processes.
Today copper is not lost its relevance and is still considered a very important metal often used in different needs.Copper - a body or substance?What properties it has, and what is needed?Try to understand further.
General characteristics of the element copper
As a chemical element, copper is its location in the periodic system.It is the following.
- fourth great period, the first row.
- first group, the sub-groups.
- Number 29.
- atomic weight - 63.546.
- electronic configuration of the outer layer is expressed by 3d104s1.
element has two stable natural isotopes with mass numbers 63 and 65. The Latin name of the element cuprum, which explains its chemical symbol Cu.In the formulas read as "cuprum", Russian name - copper.
Copper - a body or substance?
To answer this question, it is necessary to begin to define the terms "substance" and "body."They studied more in school stages, as are fundamental.From the point of view of science of chemistry and physics, a substance considered all materials of construction for certain items.That is, examples of substances can serve all chemical compounds both organic and inorganic nature.
body - is the object itself, which is just out of some substance.They can be artificially designed by man, or else have a natural origin.Examples of bodies: nails, windows, plates, table, cabinet, flower pot and so on.
To distinguish between these two concepts, we give some comparative examples.
- Sugar - a substance lollipop - body.
- Iron - a substance the nail - the body.
- window - the body, the glass - a substance.
obvious from these considerations that the question: "Copper - a body or substance?"- The answer is unequivocal.This substance.But if it goes on a copper plate or a copper ring, then surely we should speak of them as a body.
Chemically, copper - a substance belonging to the category of metals.It has a number of very valuable properties, which lie in the widespread use of this compound.
simple substance of copper - a non-ferrous metal
As we have already indicated, copper - the metal.However, not all members of this group of substances are identical in their characteristics.There are soft and hard, white and yellow, red metals and others.Copper also applies to color soft metal.
The electronic structure of the atom it can accurately determine the copper - a metal or non-metal.After all, at the external level it has only one electron, which means that it it can easily give, showing the typical metal reducing properties.Consequently, the fact that it should be classified is metal can be no doubt.This is also indicated by the physical properties of its simple substance.
physical properties
Copper - a substance or body?Fully convinced of the correctness of the answer can only be considered its physical properties.If we talk about this element as a simple substance, then it is characterized by the following set of properties.
- Metal red.
- soft and very malleable.
- excellent heat conductor and electric conductors.
- not refractory, the melting point of 1084.5 0C.
- density is 8.9 g / cm3.
- In nature, found mainly in native form.
Thus, it turns out that copper - a substance with the known with the ancient times.On the basis of it create a lot of old architecture, produced glassware and household items.
chemical properties
In terms of reactivity, copper - the body or a substance having a low interoperability.There are two main oxidation states of the elements that he displays in the compounds.It:
- +1;
- +2.
Rarely is a matter in which the data values are replaced by three.
Thus, copper can interact with:
- air;
- carbon dioxide;
- hydrochloric acid and some other compounds only at very high temperatures.
All this is due to the fact that on the surface of the metal forms a protective oxide film.That it protects it from further oxidation and gives stability and low activity.
from simple substances capable of reacting with copper:
- halogens;
- selenium;
- cyanide;
- gray.
often form complex compounds or double salts.Almost all the complex compounds of the element other than oxides - toxic substances.Those molecules that form monovalent copper is easily oxidized to divalent representatives.
Applications
Copper - a mixture or a pure substance that is in any of these states is widely used in industry and everyday life.You can mark several major industries use copper compounds and pure metal.
- Leather industry, which uses some of the salt.
- production of fur and silk.
- Production of fertilizers, plant protection against pests (bluestone).
- copper alloys are widely used in the automotive industry.
- Shipbuilding, aviakonstruktsii.Electrical
- in which copper is used, thanks to the good corrosion stability and high electrical and thermal conductivity.
- Various instrument.
- Production utensils and household items of economic value.
It is obvious that in spite of the many hundreds of years, the metals only strengthened its position and proved worth and indispensability in the application.
copper alloys and their properties
There is a lot of copper-based alloys.She has high technical characteristics, as can be easily forged and rolled to an easy and strong enough.However, adding certain components properties are significantly improved.
In this case, you should ask the question: "Copper - a substance or physical body, when it comes to its alloys?"The answer would be: this substance.Anyway it is precisely to them until the alloy will not be made any physical body, there is a certain product.
What are copper alloys?
- practically equal to the combination of copper and zinc in a single composition called brass.This alloy is characterized by high strength and resistance to chemical attack.
- tin bronze - a combination of copper and tin.
- Melchior - nickel and copper in the ratio of 20/80 100. It is used for making jewelry.
- Constantan - a combination of nickel, copper and manganese supplement.
biological significance is not so important, copper - a substance or body.Significant others.What is the role of copper in the life of living organisms?It turns out, very important.Thus, the ions of the metal have the following functions.
- participate in the transformation of iron ions in hemoglobin.
- an active participant in the processes of growth and reproduction.
- Let assimilated amino acid tyrosine, therefore affect the display of the color of hair and skin.
If the body does not receive the item in the right quantity, then there may be unpleasant disease.For example, anemia, hair loss, painful thinness and so on.
