Chemical Fact Sheet
Copper
| Chemical Abstract Number (CAS #) | 7440-50-8 |
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| Synonyms | 1721-GOLD;ALLBRI-NATURAL-COPPER;ANAC-110-;ARWOOD-COPPER; BRONZE-POWDER; CDA-101-;CDA-102-;CDA-110-;CDA-122-;CI-77400; CI-PIGMENT-METAL-2-; COPPER-BRONZE;COPPER-M-1;COPPER-POWDER-;COPPER SLAG-AIRBORNE; COPPER SLAG-MILLED;COPPER-AIRBORNE;COPPER-MILLED;CU-M3; GOLD-BRONZE;KAFAR-COPPER;M-1-;M-3-;M-4-;M1- (COPPER);M2- (COPPER);M3- (COPPER);M3R-;M3S-;M4-(COPPER);OFHC-CU-;RANEY-COPPER;Caswell-No-227;CE-1110; Copper,Metallic-Powder; E-115- (metal);EPA-Pesticide-Chemical-Code-022501;Cuprum- (Latin) |
| Analytical Methods | 200.7 - 200.8 - 6010 - 6020 |
| Molecular Formula | Cu |
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Synopsis
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Copper - (L. cuprum, from the island of Cyprus), Cu; at. wt. 63.546(3); at. no. 29; f.p. 1084.62 deg C; b.p. 2562 deg C; sp. gr. 8.96 (20 deg C); valence 1 or 2. The discovery of copper dates from prehistoric times. It is said to have been mined for more than 5000 years. It is one of man's most important metals. Copper is reddish colored, takes on a bright metallic luster, and is malleable, ductile, and a good conductor of heat and electricity (second only to silver in electrical conductivity). The electrical industry is one of the greatest users of copper. Copper occasionally occurs native, and is found in many minerals such as cuprite, malachite, azurite, chalcopyrite, and bornite. Large copper ore deposits are found in the U.S., Chile, Zambia, Zaire, Peru, and Canada. The most important copper ores are the sulfides, oxides, and carbonates. From these, copper is obtained by smelting, leaching, and by electrolysis. Its alloys, brass and bronze, long used, are still very important; all American coins are now copper alloys; monel and gun metals also contain copper. The most important compounds are the oxide and the sulfate, blue vitriol; the latter has wide use as an agricultural poison and as an algicide in water purification. Copper compounds such as Fehling's solution are widely used in analytical chemistry in tests for sugar. High-purity copper (99.999 + %) is available commercially. Natural copper contains two isotopes. Twenty five other radioactive isotopes and isomers are known. |
| Use | Heating, chemical, and pharmaceutical machinery; alloys (monel metal, beryllium-copper); electroplated protective coatings and undercoats for nickel. Heating, chemical, and pharmaceutical machinery; alloys (monel metal, beryllium-copper); electroplated protective coating and undercoats for nickel, chromium, zinc, etc; cooking utensils; corrosion-resistant piping; catalyst; flakes used as insulation for HEATING, CHEMICAL, AND PHARMACEUTICAL MACHINERY; ALLOYS (MONEL METAL, BERYLLIUM-COPPER); ELECTROPLATED PROTECTIVE COATINGS AND UNDERCOATS FOR NICKEL, CHROMIUM, ZINC, ETC; COOKING UTENSILS; CORROSION-RESISTANT PIPING; CATALYST; FLAKES USED AS INSULATION FOR LIQUID FUELS; WHISKERS USED IN THERMAL AND ELECTRICAL COMPOSITES. IN WORKS OF ART. METAL FOR ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS (EG, WIRE) BUILDING CONSTRUCTION (EG, PLUMBING PIPES), INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT, TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY (EG, AUTOMOBILES), CONSUMER & GENERAL PRODUCTS (EG, COINS), & IN INORGANIC PIGMENTS (EG, PIGMENT METAL 2); CHEM INTERMEDIATE FOR COPPER CHEMS (EG, CUPRIC SULFATE). Copper has a contraceptive effect when present in the uterus. It is added to some intrauterine contraceptive devices permitting reduction in their size with concomitant reduction in the associated side effects such as pain and bleeding. In agricultural products (insecticides, fungicides, herbicides), anti-fouling paints, catalysts, corrosion inhibitors, electrolysis and electroplating processes, electronics, fabric and textiles, flameproofing, fuel additives, glass, and ceramics. Used in cement, food and drugs, metallurgy, nylon, paper products, pigment and dyes, pollution control catalyst, printing and photo copying, pyrotechnics, and wood preservatives. |
| Consumption Patterns | ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS, 54%; BUILDING CONSTRUCTION, 20%; INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT, 13%; TRANSPORTATION, 8%; OTHER (EG, CONSUMER & GENERAL PRODUCTS, CHEM INT), 5% (1982) Industrial Sector: Building construction, 43%; electrical and electronic products, 24%; industrial machinery and equipment, 13%; transportation, 10%; and consumer and general products, 10% (1986). |
| Apparent Color | REDDISH METAL; FACE CENTERED CUBIC STRUCTURE |
| Boiling Point | 2595 DEG C |
| Melting Point | 1083 DEG C |
| Molecular Weight | 63.546 |
| Density | 8.94 |
| Sensitivity Data | The fumes and dust cause irritation of the upper respiratory tract. Inhalation of copper fume results in the irritation of the upper respiratory tract. Contact with copper fumes will also cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat. |
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Chemical and Physical Properties |
Lustrous, ductile, malleable metal; MOHS' Hardness: 3.0; SPECIFIC RESISTANCE: 1.673 MICROOHM/CM; Heat of fusion: 48.9 CAL/G; HEAT CAPACITY (SOLID): 0.092 CAL/G/DEG C AT 20 DEG C, (LIQ): 0.112 CAL/G/DEG C; Becomes dull when exposed to air; very slowly attacked by cold hydrochloric acid, dil sulfuric acid, readily by dil nitric acid, hot concn sulfuric acid and hydrobromic acid, attacked by acetic and org acids; two naturally occurring isotopes: 63 (69.09%), 65 (30.91%); 9 artificial isotopes. It conducts heat and electricity exceedingly well. Copper forms two series of salts, CU(1+) and CU(2+) both valence types form complex ions that are stable. Readily attacked by alkalies. Odorless /Copper dust & mist (as Cu)/ Electronegativity (Pauling scale): 1.90 |
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Environmental Impact |
One of the cheif industrial exposures to copper from which there are potential health effects is the fume. Fume exposures occur in copper and brass plants and in welding copper containing metals. Copper dissolved from the wire used in certain intrauterine contraceptive devices has been shown to be absorbed systemically. An appreciable fraction of the copper dissolved from the tubing commonly used in hemodialysis equipment may be retained by the patient. Copper bracelets are worn as a folk remedy for rheumatic disorders; there is no good evidence to justify such a practice. Study of the literature describing symptoms occasionally observed in copper and brass workers does not allow one to conclude that copper intoxication is occupational disease. Such symptoms are due to poor working conditions, presence of arsenic and lead as impurities. Sources of exposure are from fume, from copper ore smelting & related metallurgic operations, from welding, & from dusts of copper metal & copper salts in copper metal workers & copper polishers. A partial list of occupations in which exposure may occur includes: asphalt makers, battery makers, electroplaters, fungicide workers, gem colorers, lithographers, pigment makers, rayon makers, solderers, wallpaper makers, water treaters, & wood preservative workers. Acute GI disturbances may result from accidental ingestion of food or beverages contaminated by copper released from copper vessels, from hot water geysers. Many cases of poisoning result from the use of copper containers for food or drink. In recent years extracorporeal hemodialysis has been a source of copper poisoning. |
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Environmental Fate |
Occurrance (all forms) in earths crust: 70 PPM ,in sea water: 0.001-0.02 PPM. Found in nature in its native state; also in combined form in several minerals incl chalcopyrite, chalcocite, bornite, tetrahedrite, enargite, antlerite. Copper is present in concn averaging about 4 ppm in limestones, 55 ppm in igneous rocks, 50 ppm in sandstones, and 45 ppm in shales. The marked concentrations of copper in shales & sandstones suggest that copper in the lithosphere exists largely as adsorbed ions, fine grained particles or as one of many discrete sedimentary copper minerals. Generally, these minerals occur only as sparse tiny grains that are widely disseminated throughout the sedimentary rocks. Copper is widely distributed in nature in the elemental state, in sulfides, arsenites, chlorides, and carbonates. The element is only superficially oxidized in air, sometimes giving a green coating of hydroxy carbonate and hydroxy sulfate. The concentration of copper in the continental crust, generally estimated at 50 ppm, tends to be highest in the ferromagnesium minerals, such as the basalts pyropene and biotite, where it averages 140 ppm. Sandstones contain 10-40 ppm, shales 30-150 ppm, and marine black shales 20-300 ppm. Coal is relatively low in copper. In the sedimentary cycle copper is concentrated in the clay mineral fractions with a slight enrichment in those clays rich in organic carbon.In the vicinity of copper mines or smelting works, where the water and pasture have been shown to be contaminated with copper. Smelting operations may produce elemental copper and it is likely that municipal incineration will produce copper. The principal source of elevated copper levels in air is copper dust generated by copper processing operations. Other possible sources of copper in air may be tobacco smoke and stack emissions of coal burning power plants. The reaction of soft water with the copper pipes that are used in some household plumbing systems contributes to the copper levels in water at the tap. On a global basis, the atmospheric copper flux from anthropogenic sources are approximately three times higher than its flux from natural sources. Non-ferrous metal production is the largest contributor of atmospheric copper flux in the United States. Windblown dust accounts for approximately 65% of the overall nonanthropogenic sources of copper emission to the atmosphere. Sources of copper emission are: iron and steel production, 7.4%; coal and oil combustion, 4.6%; zinc smelting, 3.3%; copper sulfate production, 2.7%; municipal incineration, 1.9%; others, 2.3%.Factors affecting the balance between copper in the parent rock & in the derivative soil include the degree of weathering, the nature & intensity of the soil formation, drainage, pH, oxidation-reduction potential, & the amount of organic matter in the soil. Since copper in rocks is likely to be more mobile under acidic than alkaline conditions, the relation of pH to copper in the environ has been of great concern to agriculturalists & biologists. Alkaline conditions in the soil & the surface water favor precipitation of copper. Acid conditions promote solubility of copper, increase the concn of ionic copper, & thereby change the microorganism & other aquatic animal populations, depending on tolerance for various levels of copper in solution. The reports of acid rain in various parts of the world are of serious concern. Due to the variety of conditions which influence the metal's avail, the total copper content of the soils is not an accurate indication of deficiencies or excess of copper in soil rooted plants.Some copper complexes may be metabolized however, there is no evidence that biotransformation processes have a significant bearing on the aquatic fate of copper.The fate of copper with respect to its leachability in purely organic spruce forest soils was studied. Appreciable mobilization of copper occurred only with prolonged leaching at pH 2.8. Therefore, it does not appear likely that acidic rainfall will result in significant mobilization of copper from organic soils unless the pH of rainfall decreases to < 3. Estimated that approx 50% of copper in the top few centimeters of these soils was organically bound, approx 18% was in the hydroxy carbonate form, approx 7% was in the adsorbed state, approx 11% was bound by other anions and 6% was irreversibly adsorbed. Only 3% of the copper was extractable with water at pH 4.5; hence only 3% was mobile at this pH. In urbanized areas the effects of land clearing, profile disruption and increased acid rainfall may increase copper mobilization in these soils. In soils exposed to atmospheric deposition, high levels of copper and other metals may occur that can be directly toxic to certain soil microorganisms and can disrupt important microbial processes in soil, such as nutrient cycling. Studies concerning heavy metal effects on microbial and fungal activity in soils, found that copper and other metals inhibited mineralization of nitrogen and phosphorus in contaminated forest soils. Regression analysis indicated that copper was more important than other metals in controlling these processes. Studies reported lower fungal species diversity in soils contaminated with heavy metals. Copper was found to be more toxic to these species than other metals. This evidence suggests that while other metals in contaminated soils contributed to the observed effects, copper may be the most important in terms of toxicity. The contents of copper, molybdenum, sulphur, zinc, selenium, iron, manganese, and the copper/molybdenum ratio were determined in different native plant species from a mountain area of central southern Norway. The overall mean values and ranges (mg/kg DM) were copper: 6.0, 0.9-27.2; molybdenum: 0.25, 0.01-3.57; zinc: 77, 8-320; selenium: 0.05, less than 0.01-0.32; iron: 208, 15-2245; manganese: 338, 31-3784; sulfur: (g/100 g DM) 0.20, 0.03-0.56; copper/molybdenum: 79, 1-7955. Levels of the individual elements showed considerable variability, both between and within plant groups. Mineral contents were compared with the established requirements for sheep and cattle, the following conclusion being drawn. The levels of zinc, sulphur, iron, and manganese were found to be adequate for ruminants.The contents of copper, molybdenum, sulphur, zinc, selenium, iron, manganese, and the copper/molybdenum ratio were determined in different native plant species from a mountain area of central southern Norway. The overall mean values and ranges (mg/kg DM) were copper: 6.0, 0.9-27.2; molybdenum: 0.25, 0.01-3.57; zinc: 77, 8-320; selenium: 0.05, less than 0.01-0.32; iron: 208, 15-2245; manganese: 338, 31-3784; sulfur: (g/100 g DM) 0.20, 0.03-0.56; copper/molybdenum: 79, 1-7955. Levels of the individual elements showed considerable variability, both between and within plant groups. Mineral contents were compared with the established requirements for sheep and cattle, the following conclusion being drawn. The levels of zinc, sulphur, iron, and manganese were found to be adequate for ruminants. Inhalation; ingestion; or skin and/or eye contact. Gastrointestinal irritation, seldom serious, can result following the drinking of carbonated water or citrus fruit juices which have been in contact with copper vessels, pipes, tubing or valves. Such beverages are acidic enough to dissolve irritant quantities of copper. |
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Drinking Water Impact |
Because the concentration of copper in drinking water is highly variable, means are of limited significance. Approx 55% of the 604 water samples analyzed by the USEPA (1975) contained measurable levels of copper. The mean of these samples was 60 ug/l. The mean of another study was 150 ug/l. Very large variations may occur depending on type of water, eg, hardness & pH, & types of pipes & taps. Concentrations from a few micrograms to more than 1 mg/l have been reported. A combination of low pH and soft water passing through copper pipes and fittings may produce high copper levels in drinking water; however, only a little over 1% of USA drinking water exceeds the drinking water standard of 1 mg/l, with the avg copper concn in drinking water reported as approx 0.13 mg/l. Background concn of copper in USA surface waters is < 20 ug/l. Water particularly water that is acidic, low in hardness and alkalinity, and consequently corrosive to piping, may leach copper from drinking water pipes. A study was conducted on the distribution of managanese, iron, copper, lead, and zinc in the water and sediment of Kelang esturary in 1981. The mean total levels of manganese, iron, copper, lead, and zinc in the estuarine water were 27.1 ug/l, 106.5 g/l, 10.0 ug/l, 4.1 ug/l and 17.9 ug/l respectively. The results indicate that Kelang estuary is polluted with lead, manganese, and iron. However, levels of these heavy metals may still be considered safe for aquaculture, if the farm is located at least 10 km away from the river mouth. |
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Disposal |
At the time of review, criteria for land treatment or burial (sanitary landfill) disposal practices are subject to significant revision. Prior to implementing land disposal of waste residue (including waste sludge), consult with environmental regulatory agencies for guidance on acceptable disposal practices. Alternative treatment processes for metal bearing hazardous waste streams are reviewed. Precipitation is the preferred treatment process for removing toxic heavy metals from electroplating waters. Precipitation processes include hydroxide, lime and/or sulfide treatment. Chemical reduction is used to treat complex metals such as nickel, copper, hexavalent chromium waste, soluble lead, silver, metal containing cyanide, and mercury. Adsorption has shown potential for treating and polishing aqueous metal bearing wastes. Activated carbon, activated alumina, and iron filings are all applicable adsorbents. Alkaline chlorination and incineration are effective cyanide destruction treatments. Evaporation, ion exchange, reverse osmosis, electrodialysis, and electrolytic recovery are waste reduction and recovery techniques applicable to metal bearing hazardous streams. Copper dusts or mist and copper cmpd may be disposed of in sealed containers in a secured sanitary landfill. Copper containing soluble wastes can be concentrated through the use of ion exchange, reverse osmosis, or evaporators to the point where copper can be electrolytically removed and sent to a reclaiming firm. If recovery is not feasible, the copper can be precipitated through the use of caustics and the sludge deposited in a chemical waste landfill. |
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Atmosphere |
Air levels of copper in the USA have been reported to vary from 10 to 570 ng/cu m, the highest values being found in urban areas. At the South Pole the average copper concentration in air was 0.036 ng/cu m. Airborne copper concn were 0.01 and 0.257 ug/cu m in rural and urban communities (1966). The average atmospheric level of copper in the 1970's was 0.4 mg/cu m in remote area, 25 ng/cu m in rural areas, 160 ng/cu m in urban areas, and 190 ng/cu m in suburban areas. It has been estimated that the atmospheric emission rate of copper from anthropogenic sources in the United States in the 1980's ranges from 940x10+3 kg/yr to 8200x10+3 kg/yr. |
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