Page 45 - Curriculum Visions Dynamic Book

For more on copper, see Volume 5: Copper, Silver and Gold in the Elements set.
Technology
Copper is mainly made into electric wires and alloys with other metals
to create bronze or brass (with zinc) or nickel silver (with zinc and nickel – no silver is used at all). Copper is also commonly used in coins. Its low reactivity and attractive colour also make it suitable as a roofing material.
Geology
It occurs as native copper and also in many minerals. Chrysocolla is copper silicate; malachite is copper carbonate; bornite and chalcopyrite are copper iron sulphides.
Biology
Copper is a key trace element in all living things.
 A ‘seed’ crystal of (solid) copper(ii) sulphate is suspended by a thread in a solution of copper(ii) sulphate. If the beaker is allowed to stand, the water will be lost to the air by evaporation and the solution will become saturated.At
this point copper(ii) sulphate solid will form on the seed crystal, and it will grow to form a regular shape – rhombic. Evaporation is one way of separating a mixture.
The solution is a mixture. Because all the components are evenly distributed, the mixture is described as homogeneous.
A copper(ii) sulphate solution will conduct electricity, showing that ions are present.The crystal too is ionic.
 New York’s Statue of Liberty has a pleasing green patina, but the copper is otherwise little
affected even after a century of exposure to the weather.
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