| I'm pretty sure you know what copper is. After | | | | ancient civilizations did not know any other metal. |
| all, it's found in a lot of the things we come across | | | | Because of its malleability they simply hammered |
| in our day-to-day experiences. | | | | out the native ore into the shapes they desired, |
| Copper wires. Copper plumbing. Doorknobs. | | | | usually containers. It was called "chalkos" in Greek |
| Sterling silver. Flatware (dining utensils). | | | | times. In Roman times the term was "Cyprium," |
| Electromagnets; electromagnetic motors; the | | | | from which copper's symbol in the periodic table |
| steam engine; spare change (coins); brass musical | | | | of elements is derived. |
| instruments; ceramic glazes; electrical relays, | | | | So how is copper extracted from the earth's |
| busbars, and switches; mildew killer; vacuum | | | | crust? Native copper is mineral form, and they |
| tubes; cathode ray tubes; spare change; and tons | | | | are found in ores, being extracted from open-pit |
| more. | | | | mines. The ores are extracted from a hard, |
| Copper is also used as a biostatic liner in hospitals | | | | igneous rock containing crystals called porphyry. |
| and ships. Bacteria and living things will not grow | | | | Even then, the amount of copper you can |
| on biostatic surfaces. Doorknobs are made of | | | | extract is as little as 0.4 to 1 percent. |
| copper in hospitals to help prevent disease | | | | While copper is necessary for all higher plants and |
| transfer. Ships are lined with copper so that | | | | animals, it can be toxic if found in exceedingly high |
| barnacles and mussels will not cling to its outside | | | | amounts. It can lead to schizophrenia. |
| surfaces. | | | | There is an inherited illness that retains copper |
| Fun fact of the day: The Statue of Liberty | | | | called Wilson's disease, which prevents copper |
| contains 179,000 pounds of copper. | | | | from being excreted into bile by the liver. If left |
| Rumor even has it that sucking on a copper | | | | untreated, the excess copper found in the body |
| penny will let the breathalyzer test read 0. | | | | can lead to brain and liver damage. |
| In fact, I bet copper has been ingrained in each of | | | | Copper is surely a valuable metal to all. In fact, |
| our minds because of the existence of Chemistry | | | | there was even a group that was formed, with |
| class in our high school curriculum. | | | | an aim to try and regulate copper export, trying |
| Copper isn't always that red element with a bright | | | | to gain the same power that OPEC has. |
| lustre and shine you see almost everywhere. | | | | It did not succeed because America was never a |
| Sometimes it comes in a blue solution of copper | | | | member, it being the second largest producer of |
| ions. Sometimes it's mixed in with other metals, | | | | copper in the world today. It's largest copper mine |
| such as otherwise pure bricks of gold, because | | | | can be found in the state of Utah. |
| gold is much too soft to keep in brick forms all by | | | | So look around you for a while. Chances are, you |
| themselves. | | | | can find a hint of copper. In fact, there might be |
| Copper has been used since the dawn of the | | | | a copper wire poking through from your CPU right |
| most ancient civilizations. It may well be the oldest | | | | now. Never underestimate it, as surely the world |
| metal in use, being utilized by the people for over | | | | wouldn't be what it is today without copper. |
| ten thousand years. In fact, for five millenia | | | | Copper makes the world go round too. |