Concept in Definition ABC

Along with gold and silver, it is one of the most popular chemical elements with the greatest presence in the Earth crust, in a natural state, that is, without being combined with other elements.

Reddish in color, easy to mold and manipulate, and like all metals, it is an excellent conductor of heat and electricity, solid, and shiny.

In the periodic table of elements it appears symbolized as Cu and the atomic number is 29.

Uses and applications, today and yesterday ...

Its most recurrent and widespread application today is at the request of the metallurgical industry, to make cables electrical (due to its high response to the conduction of electricity), in electronics, and in agriculture to manufacture fungicides, among others.

Its use dates back to the beginnings of humanity, around 10,000 years ago, when humans discovered that it was an excellent element to make tools and ornaments, due to its malleability, which until then were made with stones.

Asia and the Mediterranean were the first regions to use it, being a ring, found more than 8 thousand years ago, in the

territory that today occupies Iraq, the oldest evidence of its use.

Civilizations of enormous development such as the Sumerian, Egyptian, Roman and Greek knew how to apply it in various actions.

The plumbing systems installed in the Egyptian pyramids and the reinforcements of the boats used by Christopher Columbus to discover America were made with this metal, as well as coins and bells.

In the 19th century, after the Industrial Revolution and inventions associated with telecommunications and electricity, their use magnificently escalated.

Promoted the development of copper mining

Its great demand generated the development of copper mining, which to date is very advanced in terms of efficiency.

One of the most common exploitation methods in these times is open pit, in those cases in which the mineral bodies are prolonged and are close to the surface.

The process begins with drilling and blasting, to access the reserve and be able to advance with the removal and fragmentation of the rock; then it is loaded and trucked to a plant that concentrates it and will work according to the conditions.

Durable and suitable for recycling

It should be noted that its great durability facilitates its recycling an unlimited number of times and does not lose its properties.

The reason for this is that in some urban centers it has become a precious element by the criminals, who steal it because they know they can get a good difference in money with their resale.

The theft of copper cables, per case, has increased considerably due to the above.

Types of alloys

Copper alloys, which is the combination of copper with other metals, are very common and have various uses.

The main difference from pure metal is that they have less conduction of heat and electricity.

Among the most common are: nickel silver (zinc, copper and nickel), bronze (copper and tin), constantan (copper and nickel), cuproaluminum (copper plus aluminum), brass (copper and zinc), pewter (copper, tin, antimony and lead), silver of law (silver and copper), and zamak (copper, zinc, magnesium and aluminum).

Promotes health

One more beneficiary of copper is human health, which by consuming it in the corresponding amounts, contributes to the conformation of red blood cells, maintenance of nerves, blood vessels, the immune system and the bones.

This trace element so relevant for development can be consumed through foods that contain it: oysters, legumes, shellfish, nuts, organ meats, drinking water, and the air that we breathe every day.

The ideal would be to consume between 1 and 2 milligrams a day at most.

Its absence can cause health problems such as anemia, cardiovascular, bone, and disorders nervous, immunological and affect organs such as the lungs, kidneys, thyroid glands, among others.

Damage

Now your consumption or exposition To him, in excess, they can cause complications for the organism such as irritation in respiratory tract, nausea, diarrhea, damages in liver and kidneys.

Those who work handling this material must be properly protected when handling exceeds tolerated use.

On the other hand, its high capacity to react with oxidants makes it necessary to take precautions against the possibility of an explosion when both come into contact.

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